China's national growth figures tell one story; its cities tell another. As the global appetite for artificial intelligence hardware accelerates, a small constellation of technology hubs like Hefei has entered a period of rare industrial vitality, while rust-belt cities like Changchun confront a hollowing-out their own officials have called unprecedented. The AI boom is real, but its fruits are pooling in narrow channels — and the distance between those who stand beneath the flow and those who do not is quietly growing.
AI boom widens China's economic divide as tech hubs surge while rust-belt cities struggle
Workers in traditional manufacturing regions face job losses and economic hardship as investment diverts to AI sectors; automation in boom-town factories limits wage growth for local populations.