Advertisement
Advertisement
-
TOPIC
 / location

Hangzhou

Related Topics:
Hangzhou
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Hangzhou. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Head of Government
Party Secretary of Hangzhou Liu Jie
In an annual work report presented to the NPC, the president of China’s supreme court says courts “properly adjudicated cases” involving AI and “accurately grasped the ‘margin for error’ in technological innovation”. Photo: Reuters
Two Sessions 2026

China’s top court says it treats AI cases with care without stifling innovation

Supreme People’s Procuratorate says 4,739 individuals prosecuted last year in cases related to ‘data security breaches’.

videocam
Two Sessions 2026

China’s eastern, southern economic powerhouses vie for innovation leadership

SCMP Highlights

Hangzhou’s fine-dining scene; ‘nostalgia-posting’ trend: 7 Lifestyle highlights

China-Germany relations

Opinion | Merz’s China visit shows pragmatic diplomacy still matters

The German chancellor’s trip to Beijing suggests that Europe can de-risk from China while still pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation.

videocam
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visits the Forbidden City in Beijing on February 26. Photo: AFP
Artificial intelligence

Jack Ma, Alibaba leaders call for education overhaul in the age of AI

Time spent memorising textbooks could be freed up to cultivate creativity and imagination, according to Ma, the founder of Alibaba.

Made in China 2025

Hong Kong-listed Chinese drug firms set to turn corner on rising sales, deals

Chinese pharmaceutical firms are poised for profit growth, driven by innovative drug sales and licensing deals, despite pricing pressures.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Robotics

Germany’s Merz meets China’s tech vanguard, including Alibaba and Unitree CEOs

Hangzhou visit reflects Germany’s attempt to work further with the engines of China’s digital and robotics economy.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is given a tour of Unitree by CEO Wang Xingxing. Photo: DPA
China-Germany relations

Editorial | Merz’s Beijing trip shows that Germany realises it needs to work with China

Stable bilateral and China-EU relations can only be positive for global stability and sustainable development in an era of turbulence.

China-Germany relations

Germany’s Merz leaves China with stronger ties as Trump trade battle looms

Analysts say German chancellor’s talks in Beijing helped build rapport with Chinese leaders and halt confrontation.

videocam
8
Food and Drinks

Why Hangzhou’s 2-Michelin-star Ru Yuan is ‘a restaurant unlike any other’

Ru Yuan’s chef Fu Yueliang shares why everything from local dishes to design at his restaurant is about transcending Song-dynasty tradition.

Ru Yuan’s signature braised pork belly and seasonal vegetables with soy sauce. At the restaurant in Hangzhou, China, chef Ru Yuan takes classic Zhejiang dishes and elevates them for modern diners. Photo: Ru Yuan
China-Germany relations

Xi and Merz pledge to strengthen ties as they rebalance amid ‘turbulent’ times

After meeting Chinese leader, German chancellor calls for closer trade relations to unlock opportunities and drive economic prosperity.

videocam
13
Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) welcomes German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: dpa
Robotics

Editorial | As China takes to robots, human touch needed more than ever

Amid the excitement over the humanoid performers at the Spring Festival Gala, it must be remembered that robotic advances should complement human welfare.

China-EU relations

Merz the latest European leader to visit China amid tensions with US

Trade deficit is likely to be top priority for German chancellor on his first official visit to China since taking office.

videocam
Robotics

China’s humanoid robot orders surge after Spring Festival spotlight

Interest also spiked in Noetix’s Bumi, a companion robot that appeared in a family-themed comedy sketch at the gala.

videocam
16
Robots perform during China Central Television’s Spring Festival Gala 2026 on Monday. Photo: Handout
Artificial intelligence

Unitree CEO sees embodied intelligence overtaking the internet’s impact

Unitree founder says the shift from screen-based AI to real-world machines could unlock a far larger economic wave than today’s tech boom.

Unitree’s G1 humanoid robot is displayed during the World AI Cannes Festival 2026 on February 12, 2026. Photo: EPA
China’s private sector

Before the factory floor, the dance floor: robots find path to market at US$145

Humanoid robots may one day transform factories and warehouses, but for now their most immediate role is keeping the party going.

videocam
Science

In robot-aided surgery, it doesn’t matter where you are: Chinese study

First randomised controlled trial of telesurgery finds it a ‘feasible solution’ for uneven distribution of medical services.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Artificial intelligence

‘Teach our children well’: Jack Ma urges changes to China’s education in AI era

China’s educators must teach students to ask thousands of good questions, rather than give the same correct answer, Ma says.

videocam
Alibaba Group Holding founder Jack Ma speaks to Chinese rural teachers in a video conference call on Monday. Photo: Jack Ma Foundation
China technology

Opinion | How Hangzhou’s tech ecosystem nurtures dragons and rockets

It’s not one factor but a ‘rainforest’ of policy, capital, talent, universities and research institutions operating within clear boundaries.

videocam
Artificial intelligence

Beijing outlines tech push with focus on AI, 6G, humanoid robots

Tech ministry’s plan targets breakthroughs in AI models, agents and chips, as well as AI’s spread into diverse sectors.

Robotics

China’s Unitree ships over 5,500 humanoid robots in 2025, surpassing US peers

The Hangzhou-based firm’s output far outstripped the roughly 150 units each shipped by Tesla, Figure AI and Agility Robotics last year.

videocam
5
A G1 humanoid robot model from Unitree waves at visitors during the 21st China International Equipment & Manufacturing Industry Expo in Tianjin on March 6, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
China property

Hotel conversions gain traction in China’s office market amid high vacancies

In Hangzhou, one office building now houses around 10 hotels, alongside restaurants, photography studios and second-hand luxury stores.

Hotel operators are seeking lower-cost, well-located space, and office landlords are looking to reduce vacancy, says James Macdonald, head of research for China at Savills. Photo: Handout
Artificial intelligence

DeepSeek stays mum on next AI model release as technical papers show frontier innovation

Hangzhou-based start-up’s technical papers bode well for potential advances in its next major AI models.

Artificial intelligence

DeepSeek founder’s High-Flyer ranks among China’s top hedge-fund firms in 2025

Hangzhou-based High-Flyer ranks second among China’s 10 top-performing large hedge-fund managers last year.

Retailing

Foreign, Hong Kong retailers shut mainland China stores amid fierce competition

High-profile store closures included those of Lane Crawford, Ikea, Triumph, Zara Home and Zara.

Lane Crawford plans to close its store in Chengdu after February 28. Photo: agirlaboutdesign.com
DeepSeek

Core team of Chinese researchers behind AI model R1 remains intact: DeepSeek

The 18 core scientists behind R1 continue to power the start-up’s AI ambitions and capabilities amid growing anticipation of a new release.

8
The updated technical paper of DeepSeek’s R1 development shows the start-up retained all 18 scientists behind the much-acclaimed AI model. Photo: Shutterstock
Artificial intelligence

Alibaba’s Amap rolls out AI-powered 3D virtual tours for offline destinations

Flying Street View feature offers virtual tours of restaurants and venues as platform nears 1 billion monthly users.

China property

China’s developers diminish further amid unending property downturn

Only 10 developers manage to break US$14 billion in 2025 sales, down from 43 in 2020.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement