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, according to the information office of Shangcheng District government. This move 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 international markets.
Shangcheng District is a unique blend of time-honored cultural heritage and modern dynamism. Home to the ruins of the Southern Song imperial city, it has been the core of Hangzhou since the Sui and Tang dynasties, preserving Song-style culture for over 800 years. The local government has advanced initiatives to inherit and promote this culture, building an open-air museum and launching cultural tourism routes themed on Song aesthetics. Historical areas like Qinghefang Historical and Cultural Characteristic Block retain Ming and Qing architectural layouts, with traditional institutions like Hu Qing Yu Tang Chinese Pharmacy and Wang Xing Ji fan craftsmanship still thriving.
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) covering 122 square kilometers, transitioning from a traditional commercial center to an innovation ecosystem powered primarily by artificial intelligence. A ten-billion-yuan industrial fund for AI and embodied intelligence provides financial support for tech enterprises from R&D to commercialization. The district boasts over 50,000 college graduates under 35 and a total talent pool of 420,000, with its index for commercialization of scientific and technological achievements ranking among the top in Zhejiang Province.
Innovation platforms have flourished under this strategy. Xizi Smart Industrial Park, renovated from old industrial workshops, now hosts over 30 humanoid robot enterprises. The Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Training Base was inaugurated there in early 2026, where humanoid robots are deployed in factories and daily scenarios, with breakthroughs in core technologies like motion control and environmental perception.
The integration of culture and technology has also 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 renowned brands, with digital applications creating distinctive experiences. Sijiqing Fashion Street, one of China's most influential garment distribution hubs, is transforming into an international tourist and consumption 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 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 a district government official. The Google Cross-border E-commerce Acceleration Center's settlement underscores Shangcheng's commitment to becoming a leading digital hub, blending heritage with cutting-edge technology to foster global business expansion.
