Shangcheng District: Where Heritage Meets Innovation in China's Digital Transformation

On June 1, the Google Cross-border E-commerce Acceleration Center announced its upcoming settlement in Shangcheng District, Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province. This move marks Shangcheng's lead in building a world-class digital hub to support local enterprises in going global, serving as a powerful engine for Hangzhou-based businesses to expand into international markets, according to the information office of Shangcheng District government.

Shangcheng District is a place where time-honored cultural heritage blends perfectly with the rhythms of the modern era. Home to the ruins of the Southern Song imperial city, Shangcheng has been the core of Hangzhou since the Sui and Tang dynasties, carrying forward Song-style culture for over 800 years. The local government has advanced initiatives to inherit and promote Song-style culture, building an open-air museum and launching cultural tourism routes themed on Song aesthetics, such as the Qinghefang Historical and Cultural Characteristic Block, which retains Ming and Qing architectural layouts. The timeless herbal aroma of Hu Qing Yu Tang Chinese Pharmacy and the exquisite fan craftsmanship of Wang Xing Ji have been passed down through generations, embodying a living heritage that forms the deepest foundation for Shangcheng's development.

Scientific and technological innovation acts as the core driving force for Shangcheng's high-quality development. In 2025, the district launched the construction of a Central Innovation District (CID) to unleash new productive forces. Covering an area of 122 square kilometers, the entire district has evolved from a traditional commercial center into an innovation ecosystem powered mainly by artificial intelligence. Shangcheng has set up a ten-billion-yuan industrial fund for AI and embodied intelligence, providing financial support for cutting-edge tech enterprises from R&D to commercialization. The district is home to more than 50,000 college graduates under 35, with a total talent pool of 420,000. Its index for the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements ranks among the top tier in Zhejiang Province.

Driven by this strategy, innovation platforms have flourished. Renovated from old industrial workshops, Xizi Smart Industrial Park stands as a landmark in Shangcheng's tech landscape. It now gathers over 30 humanoid robot enterprises, and the Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Training Base was officially inaugurated here in early 2026. At the base, humanoid robots have been put into use in factories and daily scenarios, with continuous breakthroughs in core technologies such as motion control and environmental perception.

The integration of culture and technology has also given rise to booming international consumption. The district is speeding up the development of an international fashion and consumption hub, empowering consumption scenarios with digital technologies. Adjacent to West Lake, Hubin Pedestrian Street attracts 40 million visits annually and houses over 1,200 renowned domestic and international brands. Digital and smart applications have been widely introduced here to create distinctive experiences. As one of China's most influential garment distribution hubs, Sijiqing Fashion Street is undergoing a full transformation into an international tourist and consumption destination. Digital design and flexible manufacturing have reshaped its traditional supply chains, while original designer brands and trendy cultural venues inject youthful vitality.

"Rooted in history and culture, driven by scientific and technological innovation, and connected via international consumption, Shangcheng demonstrates to the world how an eastern urban district strikes a balance between preservation and innovation, enabling millennia-old heritage to write a new chapter in the contemporary era," said an official of the district government.