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Using the idea of an octopus to govern a city might sound bizarre. But Hangzhou, dubbed China's "digital capital," has done exactly that.

Drawing inspiration from the octopus – smart, flexible and self-repairing – the city built an innovative digital governance model. On city streets, robots assist with traffic management. Beneath tunnels and underpasses, smart warning systems monitor flood risks in real time. In residential neighborhoods, QR codes placed on building walls turn every household into part of a connected governance network, linking residents directly with community workers and public services. Meanwhile, at local service centers, AI-powered assistants handle routine inquiries, helping reduce waiting times and improve efficiency for the public.

This is digital reform in action: faster responses, smarter resource allocation, and everyone can participate in social governance with the help of their phones. What sound bizarre turns out to be remarkably efficient.

06:25

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The Art of Governance: How digital reform is reshaping social governance in China