Guizhou Province Emerges as a Key Player in the Global Digital Economy
In recent years, Guizhou province, located in Southwest China, has rapidly transitioned into a crucial computing network hub, showing remarkable advancements since its designation as a national computing power center in May 2021. This shift is driven by the ambitious "east data, west computing" project which emphasizes processing data from the eastern regions of China in the west. The implications of this initiative extend beyond mere technological transfers; it signifies a substantial restructuring of production methodologies across the province.
By the conclusion of 2024, Guizhou recorded an impressive computing power growth, doubling its capabilities and surpassing 57 EFLOPS (57 quintillion floating-point operations per second). Over 90% of this capacity is attributed to intelligent computing, effectively placing Guizhou among China's leading provinces in this domain. The province has established several clustered intelligent computing centers, including the significant Huawei Ascend Computing Center, transitioning from being labeled a "data storage warehouse" to a formidable "computing engine."
The governmental focus on infrastructure development has paved the way for Guizhou's budding computing industry, which is anticipated to develop a robust value chain encompassing computing power and data services. To bolster this trajectory, the province has implemented 26 incentive policies aimed at attracting enterprises, particularly from more developed areas like Guangdong, Sichuan, and Beijing. These initiatives are designed to foster a vibrant computing-related business environment, underlined by an expansion plan for data centers concentrated in Gui'an.
By the end of 2024, Guizhou accounted for 23% of China's total computing capacity and engaged in computing transactions valued at approximately 11.35 billion yuan (around $1.56 billion). The region is not just content with being a backend player; it is actively exploring diverse application scenarios while rapidly unfolding an ecosystem of clustered data centers, intelligent terminals, and expansive data applications, each aspiring to achieve a valuation of 100 billion yuan in the foreseeable future.
Innovation is driving this evolution, effectively replacing traditional resources as Guizhou's primary growth catalyst. The demand created by emerging application scenarios has further stimulated the services sector. Notably, the province's computing prowess has become an attractive option for film production teams in the eastern regions, providing significant support for over 50 films, including renowned titles like "The Wandering Earth," "Deep Sea," and "The Three-Body Problem." Strikingly, it’s reported that more than 40% of the special effects in the animated feature "Ne Zha 2" were rendered using Guizhou's computing resources.
However, the journey is not devoid of challenges. Guizhou faces significant impediments in terms of local technological advancements, a shortage of skilled personnel, and coordination deficits among regions. In response, the government is committed to cultivating local talent through initiatives like "scientist workstations" and partnerships with educational institutions. For instance, the Gui'an Supercomputing Center is heavily involved in supporting research computing efforts for local universities and research organizations, focusing on innovative fields such as biomedicine and artificial intelligence.
In addition to fostering talent development, Guizhou's financial authorities are orchestrating closer synchronization between government entities, financial institutions, and enterprises. This collaboration is aimed at providing effective financial support for technological ventures. By September of the previous year, the province had established 11 specialized bank branches providing financing for tech-based companies, accumulating loans totaling 99.84 billion yuan—a notable increase from earlier in 2024—of which 83.38 billion yuan were exclusively designated for high-tech firms, reflecting a 29.82% rise.
Looking forward, if Guizhou successfully achieves its ambitious objectives of establishing the largest computing clusters in China by the end of 2025, it is poised to not only amplify its local digital economy but also secure a prominent presence in the global digital landscape, supporting the broader modernization of China effectively.