HK Media’s Sichuan-Chongqing Tour : Final Stop in Chongqing Explores Mountain City’s Logistics Hub and Smart Car Innovation

On September 26, the “Hong Kong Media Sichuan-Chongqing Tour: Tale of Two Thriving Cities” concluded in Chongqing, with the delegation visiting Changan Automobile’s Global R&D Center and the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park to gain firsthand insights into the municipality’s manufacturing prowess and pivotal logistics role.

Changan Automobile is one of China's "Big Four" automotive groups.

Changan Automobile is one of China's "Big Four" automotive groups.

Changan Automobile is one of China's "Big Four" automotive groups.

Changan Automobile is one of China's "Big Four" automotive groups.

Changan's Oshan brand held a special event.

Changan Origin E07 .

AVATR is one of the three major brands under Changan Automobile.

AVATR is one of the three major brands under Changan Automobile.

The group toured Changan Automobile’s Global R&D Center. Changan, one of China’s top four automotive groups, boasts 163 years of history and 41 years of car-making expertise, with 14 global manufacturing bases and 39 factories.

Deepal Auto is one of the three major brands under Changan Automobile.

Deepal Auto is one of the three major brands under Changan Automobile.

Deepal Auto is one of the three major brands under Changan Automobile.

Embracing the era of “smart new vehicles,” Changan is transforming cars from mere “transportation machines” to “smart new species” with evolving “intelligence” and “emotional quotient.” These vehicles offer drivers a seamless, intelligent travel experience across all scenarios.

The delegation also visited the Inland International Logistics Hub Exhibition Center, a showcase of Chongqing’s efforts to fulfill President Xi Jinping’s vision of building an inland international logistics hub and open highland. Through a model of “corridors driving logistics, logistics boosting trade, and trade fostering industries,” Chongqing has achieved significant results. Located in the Golden Bay Smart Valley of the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park, the center spans 2.7 hectares with a total building area of 8,620 square meters. Its exhibition area covers 3,132 square meters, including a 2,082-square-meter core display space, a 770-square-meter product showcase, and a 280-square-meter flight theater, with additional facilities like meeting rooms, reception halls, and rest areas.

The General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party inspected Chongqing in 2024.

Exhibition Center for Chongqing's Inland International Logistics Hub.

The core exhibition, spanning 2,100 square meters, features eight sections: Opening History, Hub City, Hub Corridors, Hub Stations, Hub Ports, Hub Economy, Hub Environment, and Open Outlook. These highlight Chongqing’s transformation from an inland region to an open hub, with logistics and urban development synergizing to support its hub city status.

Chongqing is an inland international logistics hub center.

Building a new-era open inland highland.

The Chongqing Railway Container Center Station, one of 18 key stations designated by China Railway, is Chongqing’s sole top-tier railway logistics base and its largest container handling station. Since its establishment, it has leveraged its inland logistics hub role to enhance global connectivity, serving as a key origin for international routes like the Western Land-Sea New Corridor intermodal trains, China-Europe (Yuxinou) trains, Chongqing-Manchuria-Russia trains, and Chongqing-Ningbo trains.

Schematic diagram of Chongqing's role as a link between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Chongqing Municipality is committed to developing a logistics hub center

A docent explains the situation at the Chongqing Railway Container Center Station.

With advanced design, superior rail conditions, cutting-edge handling equipment, robust information systems, and comprehensive facilities, the station’s handling volume grew from 198,000 TEUs in 2010 to 702,000 TEUs in 2023, with a 15% annual growth rate. Rail freight accounts for about 70% of total shipments. The station offers core services like container transport, storage, transshipment, distribution, and warehousing, plus extended services such as container repairs, reefer charging, sea container returns, and road delivery, ensuring robust support for container train operations. Its 80,000-square-meter customs supervision area has 2,000 40-foot container slots, capable of storing boxes for 40 international trains like China-Europe routes, equipped with customs and inspection facilities, verification platforms, full digital management, and 24/7 monitoring.

Chongqing is committed to building an important strategic pivot for the new era of large-scale development.

Beyond being Sichuan’s capital, the often-rainy city of Chengdu has earned a new title: the “birthplace of the Demon Boy.”

Calling Chengdu the “City of Nezha” is fitting, as Nezha is truly “Made in Chengdu.” The production company behind Nezha and Nezha: The Demon Boy Churns the Sea, Coco Cartoon, along with key industry partners, is based in Chengdu High-Tech Zone’s Tianfu Long Island Digital Cultural and Creative Park. The Nezha series director, “Jiaozi” (Yang Yu), born in Luzhou, Sichuan, has long called Chengdu home.

Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province.

During the “Hong Kong Media Sichuan-Chongqing Tour: Tale of Two Thriving Cities,” the Hong Kong media delegation couldn’t miss visiting Nezha’s birthplace: Coco Cartoon. Amid China’s animation renaissance, Coco Cartoon has become an industry benchmark with Nezha (2019) and Nezha: The Demon Boy Churns the Sea (Nezha 2) (2025). How did this Chengdu-based studio infuse traditional mythology with modern flair, sparking a Chinese animation craze with stunning visuals and deep cultural resonance, and putting “Made in Chengdu” on the global stage? Its journey mirrors the transformation of China’s animation industry.

Chengdu is the "City of Ne Zha".

In 2008, Yang Yu (“Jiaozi”), a West China Pharmaceutical College graduate, pivoted to animation, starting in a modest Chengdu apartment. His 16-minute short Beat It, Big Watermelon won dozens of awards, including at the Berlin International Short Film Festival, earning him industry acclaim.

Chengdu Coco Cartoon Film and Television Co., Ltd. Photo by Bastille Post.

By late 2009, Jiaozi and friends founded Jiaozi Animation Studio, named after his online alias, taking on ads, animation, games, and VFX projects to build the team and funds. The studio evolved into Chengdu Jiaozi Animation Co., Ltd., aiming to be a full-chain animation enterprise covering original films, series, shorts, licensing, and marketing.

Yang Yu ("Jiaozi").

In 2015, as China’s animation market heated up, Jiaozi and partners established Coco Cartoon. In 2016, with investment from Enlight Media’s Colorful House Pictures, they launched Nezha: I Am the Destiny. This film, a labor of love from Chengdu and national animators, featured 1,318 VFX shots, 80% by Chengdu teams, with over 20 teams nationwide contributing.

Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Child.

In summer 2019, Nezha grossed 5.035 billion yuan, setting a Chinese animation box-office record. Chengdu’s government then prioritized “animation and gaming” in its cultural industry, making Coco Cartoon a city cultural icon. The film’s success spurred Chengdu’s animation industry chain, with the High-Tech Zone clustering animation firms and fostering a collaborative ecosystem.

Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Child

Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Child.

Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Child.

In early 2025, Nezha: The Demon Boy Churns the Sea (Nezha 2) hit the Spring Festival, continuing the first film’s style under Jiaozi’s direction, produced by Coco Cartoon and Colorful House. With breathtaking visuals and rich cultural depth, it reignited the Chinese animation craze. Nezha 2 tackled “impossible” VFX, surpassing the first film’s total shot count with intricate, stunning visuals.

Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Child.

Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Child.

Coco Cartoon’s growth reflects China’s animation evolution. From a team of dozens, it now employs over 200, mostly Gen Z and Millennials, bringing youthful perspectives. As Coco Cartoon president and Nezha producer Liu Wenzhang told media, “We craft every frame like a bronze artifact; viewers may not notice, but our sincerity shines through the screen.”

The Nezha series marks a leap from traditional hand-drawn to smart industrialized animation, blending Eastern aesthetics with modern systems. As Nezha soars over ink-wash Shu landscapes on particle-crafted flaming wheels, “Made in Chengdu” achieves a milestone. The poignant dialogue at Nezha 2’s end captures this: “Don’t tell me you still want to change the world?” “I want to try.”