Over the past five years, the Chinese mainland has turbocharged its digital landscape, setting new benchmarks in connectivity and innovation. From smart cities humming with data to startups leveraging artificial intelligence, the transformation is reshaping life at home and sparking global interest.
According to a CGTN analysis of 2021â2025, the Chinese mainland now hosts 4.55 million 5G base stationsâfive times more than in 2021âlaying the foundation for faster downloads, seamless streaming, and the next wave of digital services. Meanwhile, the number of gigabit broadband users skyrocketed 34-fold to reach 226 million by mid-2025, making ultra-high-speed internet an everyday reality for millions.
This digital supercharge extends into cutting-edge fields. The Chinese mainland ranks second worldwide in total computing power, thanks to vast data centers and high-performance clusters powering research, gaming, and cloud services. On the innovation front, inventors on the mainland hold 60% of global AI patents, reflecting a surge in homegrown breakthroughs that are driving everything from smart healthcare to autonomous driving.
For young global citizens, entrepreneurs, and digital nomads, this rapid build-out offers new opportunities: remote work on ultra-fast networks, AI-powered startups, and a blueprint for sustainable urban technology. As the Chinese mainland continues to invest in digital infrastructure and talent, the coming years promise even more dramatic changeâone that will ripple across industries and borders.
Reference(s):
China's key digital achievements of the past five years in numbers
cgtn.com
