On June 1, the Google Cross-border E-commerce Acceleration Center announced its upcoming settlement in Shangcheng District, Hangzhou City, marking a significant step in building a world-class digital hub to support local enterprises in going global. According to the information office of Shangcheng District government, this initiative will serve as a powerful engine for Hangzhou-based businesses to expand into global markets.
Shangcheng District is a unique blend of time-honored cultural heritage and modern innovation. Home to the ruins of the Southern Song imperial city, it 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 fully advanced the initiative to inherit and promote this culture, building an open-air museum and launching cultural tourism routes themed on Song aesthetics. Qinghefang Historical and Cultural Characteristic Block retains the architectural layout of the Ming and Qing dynasties, with timeless landmarks like Hu Qing Yu Tang Chinese Pharmacy and Wang Xing Ji fan craftsmanship.
Scientific and technological innovation is 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 122 square kilometers, the entire district has evolved 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 from R&D to commercialization. The district is home to over 50,000 college graduates under 35, with a total talent pool of 420,000, and its index for commercialization of scientific and technological achievements ranks among the top in Zhejiang Province.
Driven by this strategy, innovation platforms like Xizi Smart Industrial Park have flourished. Renovated from old industrial workshops, it now gathers over 30 humanoid robot enterprises, and the Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Training Base was inaugurated here in early 2026. At the base, humanoid robots are already used in factories and daily scenarios, with breakthroughs in motion control and environmental perception.
The integration of culture and technology has also boosted international consumption. Adjacent to West Lake, Hubin Pedestrian Street attracts 40 million visits annually and houses over 1,200 brands. Digital applications create distinctive experiences, bringing technological fun to consumption. Sijiqing Fashion Street, one of China's most influential garment hubs, is transforming into an international tourist destination, with digital design and flexible manufacturing reshaping traditional supply chains.
"Rooted in history and culture, driven by scientific and technological innovation, and connected via international consumption, Shangcheng demonstrates how an eastern urban district balances preservation and innovation," said a district government official.
