The Yangquan City Operations Command Center. [Photo/Yangquan Daily]

Yangquan, China's first prefecture-level city to fully open autonomous driving, is setting benchmarks in smart city development. The city has upgraded 36 traffic-controlled intersections and implemented dynamic "green wave" technology on five main roads, transforming traditional "cars waiting for lights" into "lights adjusting for cars". This innovation has reduced average stops by approximately 53 percent and improved traffic efficiency by 35 percent.

Key initiatives include building a "Smart Dual-Carbon Platform" powered by advanced energy and carbon management systems. By integrating data from 339 industrial enterprises, Yangquan is leading the development of a regional multi-category energy data foundation.

Yangquan's North Mountain Park is the province's first smart park. It utilizes AI technology in features like intelligent waste bins, facial recognition cabinets, and interactive spaces, elevating urban life to new levels.

Since being designated a national pilot city for smart initiatives in 2013, Yangquan has made significant strides. It hosts the Baidu Cloud Computing Center, a 5G-enabled smart mining platform, and, with its comprehensive city brain infrastructure, has integrated resources for urban governance that benefit the education, healthcare, and environmental management sectors.

Yangquan's achievements highlight its commitment to innovative urban planning, which enhances residents' quality of life and serves as a strategic model for digital transformation and sustainable growth in China.