Recent data shows that in the first three quarters of this year, driven by the national “Two New” policy, investment in equipment and tools across the country rose by 16.4% year-on-year. During a recent investigation in Chongqing, it became clear that traditional industries are accelerating their transformation and upgrading through equipment renewal and digitalization.

As we stroll through the vibrant streets of Chongqing, we are greeted by bustling hotpot restaurants and long lines of eager diners.

A tourist commented, “The flavors are incredibly diverse and genuinely authentic.”

Currently, Chongqing has developed over 100,000 different hotpot flavors, with more than 20,000 customizable options available. The secret behind this variety lies in the assorted sauces and ingredients. Researchers have compiled a comprehensive database by analyzing consumers’ eating habits from across the nation, which they then combine with hotpot base ingredients. Artificial intelligence plays a crucial role in creating personalized recipes from this data.

Wu Xiao, head of the Chongqing Hotpot Ingredient Laboratory, explained, “Regions in the Northwest prefer a sweet and sour taste, while those in East China lean toward spicy and sweet. We base our operations on this AI database.”

Digital technology is pervasive throughout the production process. For instance, a single chili pepper undergoes five levels of intelligent screening, including X-ray scans, before it’s ready for the production line. Traditional frying pans have been replaced by fully enclosed reaction kettles; once the recipe information is entered into the system, the equipment automatically measures and processes the ingredients, boosting efficiency by ten times. Within about a minute, a piece of fresh meat can be sliced into nearly a hundred thin pieces with precision measurements.

Zhang Lianqiang, a quality control technician at Chongqing Kaihong Food Company, emphasized the rigorous standards, stating, “For beef, we conduct seven different tests—it’s very strict. The product’s quality and market readiness aren’t determined by the owner; they’re determined by our data.”

Such confidence among businesses stems from Chongqing’s emphasis on the intelligent transformation of traditional industries. In the first eight months of this year, investment in industrial technology upgrades in Chongqing grew by 27.1%, surpassing the national average by 16.5 percentage points. To support the traditional hotpot ingredient processing industry specifically, local authorities have established dedicated teams and allocated 10 million yuan annually to encourage digital transformation for companies.

Zheng Chuanbo’s company has been developing new equipment over recent years. Thanks to the latest policies, they received 1.68 million yuan in subsidy funds and have created a leading digital workshop in their industry. Located in the Hechuan District of Chongqing, they are part of a cluster of over 300 hotpot ingredient processing companies, which have expanded their product categories to more than 70, with exports reaching over 80 countries and regions.

Zheng, Senior Director at Chongqing Juhui Food Technology Company, stated, “We now have more than 150,000 retail outlets using our products. We have truly achieved a model where we can buy and sell at national and even global levels.”

Today, Chongqing boasts 1,096 digital workshops. In the first eight months of this year, the industrial sector updated 7,630 pieces of equipment, contributing to an 8.3% year-on-year increase in industrial added value.

Zhou Yang, Director of the Planning and Investment Division of the Chongqing Economic and Information Commission, remarked, “We will enhance the matching of advanced equipment supply and demand while improving our technology upgrade policy framework. By 2027, we expect that all large manufacturing enterprises in the city will enter the stage of digital proliferation, driving over 15,000 small and medium-sized enterprises to achieve digital transformation and continuously stimulate new productive forces.”

Source: CCTV News Client