South China's tech hub of Shenzhen City has taken steps to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence (AI) terminal market by fully unleashing its advantages, consolidating the city's status as the world factory of international intelligent manufacturing.
The city held the three-day Global AI Device Expo 2025 and 6th Shenzhen Global AI Expo from Thursday to Saturday to display the latest technologies and products in the sector, with participants focusing on the current and future development of AI terminal market.
The expo featured over 1,000 cutting-edge AI terminal products, comprehensively showcasing nine major categories of intelligent terminal, as well as the entire industry ecosystem across both the upstream and downstream, including chips, computing power, algorithms, applications, vividly presenting the vigorous development trend of technological innovation and industrial integration.
"This superconducting quantum computing chip we have brought to the expo enhances our efficiency in AI algorithms through quantum computing, enabling algorithms that are superior to those of current classical computers," said Shi Wei, technical director, SpinQ Technology Inc.
Shenzhen, a city known for its traditional strengths in industries such as eyewear and electronic information, is swiftly venturing into new territories, further integrating upstream and downstream resources in the industrial chain. This strategic move aims to foster coordinated development in technological innovation and industrial cooperation.
"We will fully leverage Shenzhen's industrial chain advantages in innovative manufacturing and its market-oriented advantages in global markets to support the industry in evolving towards a healthier and more comprehensive direction," said Kou Ningyan, designated secretary-general of Shenzhen AI Glasses Industry Alliance.
At the expo, eight Chinese tech heavyweights, including Huawei Device Co., Ltd. and Zhongxing Telecommunication Equipment Corporation (ZTE), have comprehensively showcased various innovative AI-driven products such as smartphones, PCs, tablets, and big model all-in-one machine.
"In addition to creating AI-driven gadgets like smartphones, computers, watches and headphones, we also aim to collaborate with global partners to explore the future forms of AI terminal," said Gao Xiang, senior communications manager, Huawei Device Co., Ltd.
At the same time, the 21st China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair opened Thursday in Shenzhen, offering an AI exhibition area for the first time.
The five-day event is being held across eight exhibition halls -- three comprehensive spaces and five specialized areas. The specialized halls cover a broad array of fields, including international cultural trade, cultural tourism, art and design, film and gaming, and intangible cultural heritage.
The AI exhibition area showcases the latest products from 22 local tech companies, such as robots, drones, smart glasses, and smart earphones. Through interactive experiences, visitors can get a glimpse into the charm and future application scenarios of AI technologies.
"As a technology-oriented cultural company, we are actively integrating large-scale AI models into the cultural industry to promote high-quality development in the cultural sector," said Yang Huiyi, a staff member of Chinese internet giant Tencent.
Established in 2004, the fair has become a leading cultural event in China and an important platform to help Chinese culture go global.
South China's tech hub Shenzhen gathers pace in fostering AI terminal market
A group of young American pickleball players engaged in vibrant cultural exchanges in China during the Chinese New Year, part of a growing wave of youth exchanges between the two countries.
The young athletes experienced a variety of activities in Shenzhen City, south China's Guangdong Province.
On Monday, the Eve of Chinese New Year, they tried making dumplings, a hands-on lesson in culture and teamwork, and shared their feelings making dumplings.
"A chef came over and showed us how to do it first and how to make it look cool," said Richie Pitot, a student.
"It was fun, but I wasn't very good at it, we weren't very good at it. It was more just having fun with the mistakes. This is their first time - it's our first time being here for Chinese New Year," said Ian Skott Harper, another student.
"The shape of the dumpling, kind of a coin, and togetherness. We were all making them together," said Isaiah Martin Valmonte, also a student.
These "student ambassadors" are in Shenzhen to promote what they describe as "pickleball diplomacy". Beyond the matches, they're diving into Spring Festival traditions.
In 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced during his visit to San Francisco that China would invite 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study over five years to increase exchanges between the two peoples, especially between the youths.
The young athletes also visited a flower market to learn about local floral culture that is in particular related to the festival.
"I learned that each flower has its own special significance. I think a large difference is Christmas in the U.S. is cold [in color]. Here, there's every color you could ever imagine. It's warm, it's sunny, it's nice. And I think it's polar opposites. But in a way, they give the same meaning, it's all about family. It's all about connections, and it's all about spending time with the ones you love most," said Ryan Corkery, another student.
The American pickleball players watched the 2026 Spring Festival Gala on Monday and hosted a celebration of their own, with food, gifts, and plenty of talent.
"People can have differences, different cultures, different beliefs, but it's finding the similarities and building bridges, and that's our mission with pickleball diplomacy, we are honored 55 years later, watching how ping pong diplomacy brought the United States and China together, we are hopeful to be part of that too," said Jeffrey Sullivan, head of the U.S. Delegation of Pickleball Diplomacy.
On Tuesday, the New Year's Day, they visited a cultural heritage theme park to experience ancient Chinese customs.
The young athletes expressed excitement and awe at experiencing the rich cultural heritage such as traditional acrobatics.
"When the trapeze, when the kids were jumping through the hoops and rings that was so crazy, they're so talented. I didn't even think they could get that high in the air. Honestly, it was just beautiful to watch, you saw so much culture and it really told a story about where we are and made me have such a much deeper understanding of China and its culture. And I just I just love it here so much," said Michael Horton, a student.
"It's such a deeper cultural tradition than in the United States. We generally stay up till midnight and watch the ball drop, and that can be a lot of fun. But here there are so many traditions and they're so deep and long running. It's such a connected experience that you definitely don't get in the United States. And it's been such a wonderful experience so far. And I'm so grateful to have been here," said William Massey, another student athlete.
The Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year, fell on Tuesday this year, and the official holiday season lasts nine days from February 15 to 23. The 2026 Chinese New Year marked the start of the Year of the Horse -- the seventh of the 12 zodiac animals in the Chinese zodiac.
American teens embrace dazzling cultural performances at Chinese New Year
