Explore Xiong'an New Area: A tech-driven city of tomorrow

Xiong'an New Area, in north China's Hebei Province and about 105 kilometers southwest of Beijing, is rising rapidly, using technology to redefine what a modern city can be.

On a large screen at the Xiong'an Urban Computing Center, streams of data deliver efficient computing support for city operations, making the center the neural hub of the smart city.

Photo shows the Xiong'an Urban Computing Center in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. (Photo courtesy of the publicity and cyberspace affairs bureau of Xiong'an New Area)

Xiong'an New Area was the first place in China to introduce the concept of a "digital twin city," said Zhang Xuexiang from the information system department at Xiong'an Cloud Network Technology Co., Ltd. She explained that every building, road, and pipeline in the physical world has a digital "twin" on the network platform.

The digital ecosystem integrates data-driven governance, smart living, and digital industries on a single platform. It breaks down traditional data silos, enabling the interconnectivity and sharing of resources.

A staff member works in front of a digital platform at the Xiong'an Urban Computing Center in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. (People's Daily Online/Yuan Meng)

Guided by the Xiong'an Urban Computing Center, the local transportation system is undergoing a quiet transformation. Digital road networks are deeply integrated with intelligent connected vehicles, creating a coordinated mobility ecosystem where "smart roads" and "smart cars" operate in tandem.

A citizen takes a ride in a self-driving vehicle booked through a ride-hailing platform in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. (People's Daily Online/Yuan Meng)

At a tunnel connecting a substation in the Xiongdong area with the Zanxi Substation, Xiong'an New Area, Wang Wenhao, a cable maintenance technician at State Grid Xiong'an New Area Power Supply Company, works alongside quadruped intelligent inspection robots.

The robots are equipped with visible light, infrared, toxic gas sensors, and audio monitoring devices. They can safely navigate dangerous and confined environments, taking over tasks that would be risky for humans, Wang Wenhao said.

A quadruped intelligent inspection robot works at a tunnel connecting a substation in the Xiongdong area with the Zanxi Substation, Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. (People's Daily Online/Su Yingxiang)

At a coffee shop of the China Mobile Science and Technology Innovation Experience Center in Xiong'an New Area, a 5G robot barista skillfully makes a cup of coffee in just several minutes.

To ensure every cup meets quality standards, the 5G robot barista underwent 30,000 hours of dual-arm testing, achieving the precision of a master barista, explained Wang Ying, operations manager at the coffee shop.

A 5G robot barista makes coffee at a coffee shop in the China Mobile Science and Technology Innovation Experience Center in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. (People's Daily Online/Su Yingxiang)

At Yuerong Park, an intelligent guide-and-transport robot offers clear, fluent introductions to the park's highlights. Yang Lili, an operations manager at Baixiaomo Technology Co., Ltd., explained that the robot is equipped with a BeiDou satellite navigation module, enabling high-precision real-time positioning. Its interactive display presents a panoramic view of the park and helps visitors plan their routes on their own.

A tourist goes sightseeing using an intelligent guide-and-transport robot at Yuerong Park, Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province. (People's Daily Online/Yuan Meng)

In a smart community, whole-home intelligent systems make everyday life simple and convenient. Cheng Cheng, a customer service manager with CCCC Property Services under China Communications Construction Co., Ltd. (CCCC), demonstrates the system to a foreign client, explaining how the central control panel allows residents to easily manage lighting, shading, ventilation, and home entertainment throughout the house.

Behind it all is a robust operational backbone. Xiong'an New Area's cloud-based multi-meter system monitors water, electricity, gas, and heating in real time, feeding all the data into a unified smart energy platform that ensures the city operates more efficiently and safely.

From the "brain" of urban governance to the "hands and feet" of daily mobility, and further to the "senses" of home life, technology flows into Xiong'an New Area like a gentle stream, becoming part of the city's lifeblood and endowing this new city with distinctive vitality and warmth.

What does the future look like? In Xiong'an New Area, the answer is already in sight.