In east China's Wuxi, all the 1,723 traffic lights have been connected to a central network for better control of the traffic, as the city committed to become the first to build the "internet of vehicles."
Not far to the east of Wuxi sits Shanghai, where digital twin is used to aid building maintenance – managers can see real-time alerts of potential risks and deal with them before accidents happen.
As society advances, there is a corresponding increase in the demands of its people. Urban development is facing challenges such as resource imbalances and inadequate infrastructure. In this scenario, the role of digital urban governance becomes particularly important.
"Smart city" and "smart governance" are concepts that have quickly spread globally, with many countries trying to use digital technology to enhance urban intelligence, convenience, efficiency and cleanliness.
In May 2024, China's National Development and Reform Commission, along with three other ministries, jointly issued a guideline noting that digital and intelligent evolution of cities is essential for shaping their competitive edge in the future.
The guideline also calls for a comprehensive breakthrough in the digital transformation of cities across the country by 2030, fostering the rise of numerous Chinese-style modern cities with global competitiveness in the era of digital civilization.
Currently, China has made significant achievements in the construction of smart cities. "China's smart city construction has achieved a series of landmark results, such as Shanghai's 'one-stop management' and Fujian's 'ecological cloud,' " said Chen Ronghui, deputy head of the National Data Bureau.
Chen added that these advancements bolstered urban governance capabilities and elevated the sense of gain and satisfaction among the people.
Bolstered by the demographic dividend and a vast domestic market, China's digital economy has developed rapidly over the past 20 years, with digital technology permeating nearly every aspect of society.
Hangzhou, as a pioneer in smart city, took the lead in offering free Wi-Fi, implementing a "treatment before payment" model in hospitals, and launching mobile apps for government, tourism and community services.
Hangzhou has become the world's largest city for mobile payments. "I have been to more than 30 countries around the world, yet I've not encountered a city as convenient as Hangzhou – where one can effortlessly manage all daily activities without cash. It's really amazing!" said a German internet celebrity who lived in China for over seven years.
The trend can also be observed outside of China. For Shibuya District in Japan's capital Tokyo, a "smart city policy" has been set up to strengthen urban infrastructure and services, enhancing the quality of life for residents and tourists.
Meanwhile, Florence in Italy has actively leveraged smart technologies to boost traffic efficiency and foster green and low-carbon development.
In addition, Athens has successfully emerged from a debt crisis and received the award for the 2018 European Capital of Innovation through its smart city projects.
On September 25th, the Global Mayors Dialogue is set to take place in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. Mayors or representatives from 24 cities across 15 countries and regions will attend this event. Let's look forward to the new stories of Smart City that the mayors will share during the forum.
(Cover via CFP. Gong Zhe contributed to the story.)