Full coverage: 3rd World Internet Conference

The third World Internet Conference will be held from the November 16–18 in Wuzhen, a small water town in east China’s Zhejiang province. The town’s history dates back a thousand years, yet it is embracing modernity through the internet.

This is a normal working day for Mr. Wei: With a simple click and scan, he is ready to start his day by using the town’s public bicycle system. Just a few steps away, an early riser has begun his day.

Wei Haihua is a technician of a smart wall. Instead of growing from the ground, the plants grow vertically. More than that, they can be controlled and supervised remotely. The 52-meter-long wall has brought a fresh look to the community.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, a group of elderly people are enjoying their afternoon. Keeping up-to-date on the world’s events is also very important for them. Sang Minxin, 80, is a frequent visitor to this nursing centre.

This special ID card contains all his medical history and current health issues. All his important information can be shared on the cloud and be connected to better medical resources.

“I really enjoyed my time here. I live alone now I have place to go. I can make new friends, I can enjoy new activities. I like to writing calligraphy and reading while spare my time here. Also they arrange all kinds of classes and lectures for us so that we can keep up to the date. I really appreciate this form of elderly care service. I don’t feel lonely anymore,” Wuzhen resident Sang Minxin said.

After enjoying the afternoon and meeting friends, Sang is ready to head back home. There are about 16,000 aged residents like Sang in Wuzhen. Eight nursing centres across the town are on hand to care for them, all within walking distance of each other. When they are home, intelligent devices are installed to monitor them at all times. When the moon takes a shift, the residents of Wuzhen can also get home with ease.

Cao Jie works as a white collar worker in an office building. By a simple clicking on his mobile phone, he is ready to go back home, in an environmentally-friendly way. The idea of renting a new energy car is getting popular in the town because of its convenience and reasonable pricing. This is a normal day in Wuzhen, a town with a rich culture, as well as a modern connection to the future.