Heilongjiang Digital Human Timeline

Notes:

Heilongjiang provincial government has integrated over 170 administrative services into a unified digital platform and launched AI-powered virtual assistants like “Pingping” for administrative tasks and public consultations. These digital humans are also used in tourism, exemplified by virtual guide “Xiaoying” at trade expos, and in local government outreach, such as in Mingshui County. Major projects include the construction of AI digital human bases, competitive bidding for smart tour guide development, and immersive virtual reality experiences incorporating metaverse elements. The government has invested in infrastructure to support AI and digital economy growth, including intelligent computing centers and digital certification systems. Educational institutions are also involved in training digital technology engineers and supporting AI integration in higher education.

The provincial capital Harbin has become a dynamic center for digital human innovation in China, with extensive integration of AI-driven virtual beings across governance, education, tourism, and industry. The city has introduced several AI government assistants, such as “Pingping,” based on DeepSeek‘s large model, and “Xiaokui,” a digital prosecutor. Harbin’s universities, including Harbin Institute of Technology and Harbin Medical University, are training students in digital human production and deploying them in teaching and research platforms. The business sector is leveraging digital humans like “Haha” and “Jenny” for events, promotion, and livestreaming, while platforms like Baidu and JD Cloud have launched digital human bases and live commerce solutions in Harbin. Collaborations with companies such as ZhiJing Future and OnaJourney Studio have expanded the scope of digital humans into metaverse tourism and cultural experiences.

The China Mobile Harbin Intelligent Computing Center, which commenced operations on August 30, 2024, represents the largest single-cluster intelligent computing center of domestic operators and can train large models with trillions of parameters. As part of China Mobile’s broader AI infrastructure expansion that includes 12 intelligent computing centers nationwide, this facility was developed through substantial investments including $2.6 billion in intelligent data center equipment orders and 2,454 AI servers in the 2023-2024 procurement scheme. The Harbin center plays a crucial role in supporting digital human applications and AI development, contributing to the city’s emergence as a leading hub for digital human ecosystems in China, particularly as it prepared to showcase these technologies during the 2025 Asian Winter Games.