Full Breakdown
Datong's Ambitious Leap into the Computing Power Sector
9/9/2025, 2:46:04 PM
Datong's Computing Power Development Goals
The city of Datong in Shanxi province is positioning itself as a leader in China's computing power sector, aiming to transform its resource-based economy into a hub for digital innovation. During the 2025 China Computational Power Conference held from August 22 to 24, Mayor Liu Junyi highlighted Datong's significant advancements in the computing power industry, which has attracted a cumulative investment of 77.3 billion yuan (approximately $10.8 billion) and operates 736,000 servers. The city's computing power capacity has reached nearly 25,000 petaflops, with projections indicating an increase in electricity consumption for its computing power center from 4.3 billion kilowatt-hours in 2024 to over 6 billion kWh in 2025.
Strategic Initiatives and Future Investments
Datong is actively integrating into the national computing power network, focusing on enhancing upstream and downstream industries such as data annotation and server manufacturing. Liu stated that the city aims to establish a green data center cluster and a computing power center city, shifting its economic model from coal and electricity production to computing power and services. Future investments in intelligent and supercomputing centers by leading enterprises are expected to exceed 100 billion yuan.
Cultural and Technological Integration
In addition to its computing power initiatives, Datong is leveraging its rich cultural heritage to enhance its international appeal. The city is promoting digital infrastructure projects, such as the digital Yungang Grottoes, which utilize advanced technologies like 3D laser scanning to preserve cultural relics. Liu emphasized that the integration of cultural elements into modern digital applications is crucial for boosting tourism and cultural consumption.
Official Statements & Responses
Mayor Liu Junyi remarked, "Computing power, as a new quality productive force in the digital economy era, can directly drive industrial upgrading and innovation." He further noted that Datong's advantages in location, climate, and industrial ecology make it an ideal host for significant events like the China Computational Power Conference. The city is committed to showcasing its comparative advantages to attract both domestic and international computing power companies.
Criticism & Opposition
While Datong's ambitious plans have garnered attention, some critics express concerns about the sustainability of such rapid growth, particularly regarding the environmental impact of increased energy consumption. The reliance on traditional energy sources for computing power raises questions about the city's commitment to a green transition.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
There is a lack of detailed information regarding the specific environmental measures Datong plans to implement alongside its computing power expansion. Additionally, while the city aims to attract significant investments, the timeline and feasibility of these projects remain unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
“Datong will actively integrate into the national integrated computing power network and strengthen upstream and downstream industries such as data annotation and server manufacturing,” — Liu Junyi, Mayor of Datong
“Datong is fully leveraging the advantages of its computing power industry cluster, continuously strengthening the construction of cultural digital infrastructure and service platforms and focusing on creating new cultural digital consumption scenarios,” — Liu Junyi, Mayor of Datong
“The millennia-old grotto art is shining with new brilliance in the new era.” — Liu Junyi, Mayor of Datong
Datong's strategic focus on computing power and cultural integration positions it as a significant player in China's digital economy, with ambitious goals for sustainable growth and innovation.
