For a while now I’ve been building something underneath the longer essays: the China Innovation Atlas, a map of where China’s emerging industries are located, beyond Beijing/Shanghai/Shenzhen, but all ~370 prefectures, drawn from official data sources, government bureaus, and news media alike.
The Atlas answers a where question: which city just broke ground on a fab, which bureau just issued a new subsidy or talent attraction policy, where the money and the announcements are clustering. That record is worth sharing on its own. So I’m starting a companion to this newsletter: The Gazetteer.
The Gazetteer is a weekly, geolocated read on China’s tech economy — industry news and local-government policy, each item tied to the city it happened in, pulled straight from the Atlas. In the spirit of China’s own local gazetteers or “difang zhi” (地方志), the official record of a place that has been kept across many dynasties and into the present. It’s less commentary than a record: what happened this week, and where.
My monthly essays aren’t going anywhere: the longer arguments, the opinions, or the views of specific places through writing. The Gazetteer is the data feed beneath them, an ongoing signal for readers who want to keep apace of China’s dizzying tech scene more frequently. If that’s not for you, nothing changes; you’ll keep getting the essays exactly as before.
Finally, caveats: this will be a work in progress. New data sources may be added and/or removed to get a more accurate and curated picture of meaningful information. Some readers may find the level of detail too granular or too much, so that’s why I’m making it opt-in and within a new section of Sinocities galled The Gazetteer.
Welcome to The Gazetteer — the new weekly companion to the essays: China's tech economy, place by place, from the Atlas. You're getting it as a Sinocities subscriber; not for you? One click below the email turns off just the Gazetteer section, longer essays and features untouched.
Here is a taste of what will come, with today’s headlines.
China Tech & Policy, 23 September 2026
16 Sept – 23 Sept 2026 · 31 developments across 7 sectors · 16 policy actions across 6 cities from the China Innovation Atlas
China’s tech sector is consolidating competitive advantage across hardware, chips, and robotics while racing to commercialize AI infrastructure at scale—Xiaomi’s multimodal LLM, T-Head’s custom silicon, and a wave of humanoid robotics launches all signal vertical integration plays. Subnational governments are reinforcing this momentum with targeted tax incentives and innovation-center subsidies, though supply-chain vulnerabilities persist: surgical robotics surge 200%+ in revenue but servo systems remain import-dependent, while chip capacity constraints won’t ease until 2027.
🗺 This week, on the map
Every headline below is geolocated to its city. See where the week’s activity clustered on the interactive Atlas — bubbles sized by activity, coloured by sector.
Artificial Intelligence
Global AI product trade volume reached $4.18 trillion, up 21.9% YoY. AI hardware like smart glasses accelerating to consumer market, Chinese tech firms advancing AI hardware, LLMs and compute infrastructure.
全球AI相关产品贸易额超4万亿美元
Hangzhou · 23 Sept · 36kr.comXiaomi releases and open-sources MiMo-V2.6 with Pro variant at 1.02T total parameters and 42B active parameters, Flash variant at 309B total and 15B active parameters, supporting 1M token context across text, image, video and audio inputs.
深度拆解 MiMo-V2.6：1M 上下文只是表面，2.5 万条轨迹才是底牌
Beijing · 23 Sept · leiphone.com360 becomes one of first 6 companies to receive national AI security certification
三六零首批获得国家级人工智能安全一级资质
Beijing · 23 Sept · 36kr.comLeXiang launches Ether large model; demonstrates embodied AI robots in real-world scenarios with live streaming of autonomous robot operations.
乐享以太大模型，让中国具身智能坐上定义席
Shanghai · 23 Sept · leiphone.comSenseTime releases SenseNova U1 Pro image model with up to 8K output
Shanghai · 22 Sept · technode.comZ.AI Open-Sources Coding Tool After Backlash Over Silent Data Uploads
Hangzhou · 22 Sept · caixinglobal.com
Semiconductors
Hengmingda reports insufficient capacity in AI computing and communications equipment; new capacity expected H1 2027 at Huizhou intelligent manufacturing base.
恒铭达：AI算力及通信设备领域产能不足，预计2027年上半年释放新产能
Huizhou · 23 Sept · 36kr.comiQOO unveils self-developed gaming chip Q4 with full-scene ray tracing, planned for iQOO 16.
iQOO公布自研电竞芯片Q4
23 Sept · 36kr.comT-Head unveils Zhenwu V900 AI chip in Alibaba’s push to expand its AI infrastructure stack
Hangzhou · 22 Sept · technode.comAlibaba unveils Zhenwu V900 AI chip as it targets 20GW of cloud data centers by 2032
Hangzhou · 22 Sept · technode.comHuawei unveils what it calls the industry’s first NPO-based Ascend 960 supernode
Shanghai · 17 Sept · technode.comHuawei Mate 90 series tipped to use SmartSens sensors and a 200MP periscope camera
Shenzhen · 17 Sept · technode.com
New Energy Vehicles
GAC Energy Technology establishes Beijing subsidiary with 50M RMB capital for EV charging infrastructure and fast-charging station operations.
广汽能源在北京成立新科技公司，注册资本5000万
Beijing · 23 Sept · 36kr.comXPeng Accelerates Global Push With New SUV
Guangzhou · 21 Sept · caixinglobal.comHuawei’s Yu Chengdong announces Zhijie RX launch on September 28, with Xiangjie V8 pre-orders simultaneously opening
华为余承东：智界RX将于9月28日发布
Shenzhen · 21 Sept · 36kr.comEvergrande NEV Abandons Car Manufacturing as Delisting Looms
Hong Kong · 18 Sept · caixinglobal.comLi Auto launches Li i9 six-seat flagship SUV at RMB 369,800
Beijing · 17 Sept · technode.comGeely reportedly reorganizes battery businesses for potential integration into listed automaker
Chongqing · 16 Sept · technode.com
Robotics
China’s surgical robot market shows inflection in H1 2026 with Microsurgery Robot revenue surging 200-230% and Jingfeng Medical narrowing losses, but servo systems and reducers remain import-dependent.
别急着吹全面国产，手术机器人的“心脏”还在老外手里！
23 Sept · huxiu.comQiyuan Robotics launches Q1 and T1 humanoid robots in Shanghai at 19,999 yuan base price, with sales starting Sept 20 and deliveries from Oct 1.
启仔远仔，想成为第一个被你带回家的硅基伙伴
Shanghai · 23 Sept · leiphone.comDongfeng’s Xiaodong humanoid robot is scheduled to enter a factory in October
Wuhan · 21 Sept · technode.comRegulators issued informal guidance to investment banks to raise IPO standards for humanoid robots, requiring authentic revenue, stable profitability, and commercialization capability.
机器人IPO门槛收紧？投行一线求证
Hangzhou · 21 Sept · huxiu.comQiyuan Robotics held product launch event for personal robots starting at 19,999 yuan, with AI model and ecosystem rollout
启元机器人新品发布会召开：个人机器人正式发售，19999元起，AI模型、生态布局同步公布
20 Sept · pingwest.comD-Robotics raises $400 million in Series C funding
18 Sept · technode.com
Autonomous Vehicles
Dunhuang government and GAC Aion signed strategic cooperation agreement to launch low-altitude air-travel fusion hub demonstration project with aircraft flight tests.
低空经济的双面真相：敦煌飞起来了，但闸门还没打开
23 Sept · huxiu.comHello Robotaxi raises about $100 million at nearly $3 billion valuation
Shanghai · 17 Sept · technode.com
Biotech
Luokang Medical involved in cross-border litigation with BD partner CoDevCo over undisclosed conflicts and alleged trade secret violations
乐普医疗跨境诉讼案：BD、掮客与出海暗礁
Beijing · 23 Sept · huxiu.comKanglong Huacheng establishes wholly-owned Ningbo pharmaceutical subsidiary with 100M RMB capital in Ningbo Qianwan New District.
康龙化成全资成立宁波医药公司
Ningbo · 21 Sept · 36kr.comChina conducted 23,875 clinical trials over 5 years; deaths in CAR-T and gene editing studies prompt risk management discussions.
中国新药狂飙背后：5年23875项临床试验，谁来保护受伤、残疾、死亡的受试者？
21 Sept · huxiu.comChina Targets 3.5 Trillion Yuan Pharmaceutical Industry by 2030
18 Sept · caixinglobal.com
Energy
Mingheng Zhishu Investment (Hainan) Co., Ltd. established with 200 million yuan registered capital, focusing on solar and energy storage.
明洋智能等在海南成立新公司，注册资本2亿
Hainan · 23 Sept · 36kr.com
Local Policy — city by city
Beijing
Beijing Economy & IT Bureau announces 2026 VAT additional deduction list registration for advanced industrial machinery enterprises; application deadline: September 21, 2026.
Policy · 21 Sept · jxj.beijing.gov.cnBeijing S&T Commission and Zhongguancun Management Committee launch Capital Innovation Voucher issuance program to support scientific and technological innovation and entrepreneurship.
Subsidy / funding · 21 Sept · kw.beijing.gov.cnBeijing NSF announces 2026 funding awards for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei natural science collaborative projects
Subsidy / funding · 21 Sept · kw.beijing.gov.cn15th China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition and 10th Zhongguancun Emerging Sector Thematic Competition launched by Beijing S&T Commission and Zhongguancun Management Committee.
Talent & innovation · 21 Sept · kw.beijing.gov.cnBeijing S&T Commission and Zhongguancun relayed the 2026 (Batch 1) application notice for the National Key R&D Program on quantum materials, devices, and equipment.
Subsidy / funding · 21 Sept · kw.beijing.gov.cn
Zhengzhou
Zhengzhou Industry & IT Bureau announces public notice of 44 proposed municipal-level enterprise technology centers for 2026 (including Huaneng Henan Clean Energy), with public inquiry period from Sept 21-28.
Talent & innovation · 21 Sept · gxj.zhengzhou.gov.cnZhengzhou Development & Reform Committee releases policy interpretation of Public Data Authorized Operation Implementation Plan, establishing “unified authorization + two-tier operation” model with eight tasks. Targets: select operating ins
Policy · 20 Sept · public.zhengzhou.gov.cnZhengzhou releases public data resource authorized operation implementation plan, establishing “unified authorization + two-tier operation” model. Target: select operators, sign agreements with 30 developers by end-2026, expand to 100 by en
Policy · 20 Sept · public.zhengzhou.gov.cn
Guangzhou
Guangzhou Industry & IT Bureau invites applications for specialized & innovative SME cultivation and empowerment center construction projects, offering full-chain support services; deadline: 2026-10-16.
Subsidy / funding · 21 Sept · gxj.gz.gov.cnGuangzhou Industry & IT Bureau allocates 500,000 yuan (no-application subsidy) to newly recognized national-level SME specialty industry clusters for ecosystem development, enterprise cultivation, and public service enhancement.
Subsidy / funding · 18 Sept · gxj.gz.gov.cnGuangzhou announces award fund allocation for newly recognized national-level SME featured industrial clusters under “no-application-needed” scheme; public notice period Sept 20–24, 2026.
Subsidy / funding · 18 Sept · gxj.gz.gov.cn
Shenzhen
Shenzhen relays Guangdong’s 2027 Guangdong-Macao Joint Science & Technology Innovation Subsidy application guide; application deadline 2026-09-18 to 2026-11-17.
Subsidy / funding · 21 Sept · stic.sz.gov.cnShenzhen Innovation and Technology Bureau relays the national R&D program application guidelines for “National Quantum Technology Key Materials, Devices & Equipment R&D” special project batch 2026, with online application deadline 2026-11-0
Policy · 21 Sept · stic.sz.gov.cn
Changchun
China’s first fungal biotech manufacturing pilot-conversion platform launched in Changchun
Investment · 20 Sept · kjj.changchun.gov.cnAnnouncement of finalists in the 2026 Changchun “Self-Created Cup” Optoelectronics Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition
Talent & innovation · 20 Sept · kjj.changchun.gov.cn
Xi’an
Xi’an S&T Bureau announces the second batch of 2026 subsidy projects for technical IP asset securitization and billization.
Subsidy / funding · 18 Sept · xakj.xa.gov.cn
Compiled from the China Innovation Atlas — aggregated tech news (reported/unverified) and official municipal announcements, geolocated to the prefecture. Explore the interactive map, city profiles and policy layer at atlas.sinocities.org.