CGTN: From 'potato capital' to 'token city': How a city in north China is transforming

Ulanqab, in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is pivoting from being known as the “potato capital” and “oat capital” to building green computing power powered by wind and solar. Since the national “East Data, West Computing” initiative began in 2022, the city has accelerated computing infrastructure development. In late 2025, it unveiled a three-year plan to create a “token city” driven by clean energy, signing 109 computing center projects by August 2026. From January to August 2026, the industry generated 5.68 billion yuan (about $849 million), up 40.3% year on year. On Oct. 17, 2026, President Xi Jinping visited and urged efficient, green and safe growth aligned with environmental protection.