Home › CGTN       11.06.2026

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

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.

📺 Subscribe to our YouTube channel and stay updated with our latest analysis and interviews:👇 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgrNz-aDmcr2uuto8_DL2jg 👈

Download our APP on Apple Store (iOS): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cctvnews-app/id922456579?l=zh&ls=1&mt=8 Download our APP on Google Play (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.imib.cctv

For more: https://www.cgtn.com/video

Most watched videos: Impossible Challenge: 30 seconds to count banknotes BLINDFOLDED https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmP_Ybj-jws Impossible Challenge: Gymnastics Boy Arat Hosseini from Iran! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sxX--U4c8w Impossible Challenge: How to calm babies in 5 seconds? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR3q9sXM7WA

More video News