On June 1, the Google Cross-border E-commerce Acceleration Center announced its upcoming settlement in Shangcheng District, Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province. This initiative positions Shangcheng as a leader in building a world-class digital hub to support local enterprises in going global, serving as a powerful engine for Hangzhou-based businesses to expand into global markets, according to the information office of Shangcheng District government.
Shangcheng District is a place where time-honored cultural heritage blends with modern rhythms. Home to the ruins of the Southern Song imperial city, Shangcheng 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 advanced the initiative to inherit and promote Song-style culture by building an open-air museum and launching cultural tourism routes themed on Song aesthetics. Qinghefang Historical and Cultural Characteristic Block retains Ming and Qing architectural layouts, with timeless elements like Hu Qing Yu Tang Chinese Pharmacy and Wang Xing Ji fan craftsmanship passed down through generations.
Scientific and technological innovation drives 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 from a traditional commercial center 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 for tech enterprises from R&D to commercialization. The district hosts 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.
Innovation platforms have flourished, such as Xizi Smart Industrial Park, renovated from old industrial workshops. It now gathers over 30 humanoid robot enterprises, and the Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Training Base was inaugurated there in early 2026. Humanoid robots have been deployed in factories and daily scenarios, with breakthroughs in motion control and environmental perception.
The integration of culture and technology has boosted international consumption. Shangcheng is developing an international fashion and consumption hub, empowering consumption scenarios with digital technologies. Hubin Pedestrian Street, adjacent to West Lake, attracts 40 million visits annually and houses over 1,200 brands. Digital and smart applications create distinctive experiences. Sijiqing Fashion Street, a major garment distribution hub, is transforming into an international tourist destination. Digital design and flexible manufacturing reshape supply chains, while original designer brands and trendy cultural venues inject youthful vitality.
"Rooted in history and culture, driven by scientific and technological innovation, and connected via international consumption, Shangcheng demonstrates to the world how an eastern urban district strikes a balance between preservation and innovation, enabling millennia-old heritage to write a new chapter in the contemporary era," said an official of the district government.
