From July 17 to 20, the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance took place in Shanghai, showcasing over 3,000 exhibits. Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, another "AI roadshow" was quietly unfolding in Europe—led by products hailing from Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei district.

AI glasses from Huaqiangbei are quietly gaining popularity across Europe. Capable of high-definition recording and real-time translation, they rival the features of premium products from major overseas brands—which cost upwards of a thousand euros—yet sell for less than one-tenth of that price. A single model sells 40,000 to 50,000 units per month, attracting a diverse customer base that includes international students, business travelers, and outdoor enthusiasts.

It is not just about glasses. Smart health rings, AI translation earbuds, entry-level aerial photography drones, and a variety of other electronic products are steadily climbing the rankings on European e-commerce platforms. Many overseas buyers are even flying directly to Shenzhen to wait for stock right at the stalls in Huaqiangbei. Data shows that Huaqiangbei ships over one billion parcels annually—40% of which go overseas to 183 countries and regions—while attracting nearly 8,000 foreign merchants for sourcing trips every day.

Many wonder: given Europe's mature homegrown tech industry, why do consumers favor products from Huaqiangbei? The answer likely lies not in a single blockbuster product, but in the "one-kilometer" full-chain ecosystem of "AI + Hardware" that Huaqiangbei has cultivated over time.

45 Years of Industrial Foundation: Solidifying the Core Base for AI Hardware Deployment

AI innovation must ultimately be realized through hardware devices that enter real-world scenarios and everyday life. While models may originate in laboratories and computing power can be deployed in the cloud, the devices that truly transform lives are the smart terminals we wear, hold, and use in our homes.

Huaqiangbei possesses precisely the capabilities needed to manufacture these AI hardware terminals: a complete industrial chain.

With 45 years of industrial accumulation, Huaqiangbei has built a solid foundation for the current wave of AI hardware. From its origins as a distribution hub for electronic components to its evolution into an incubator for smart devices, Huaqiangbei has always kept pace with technological transformation. Today, as AI increasingly permeates end-user devices, Huaqiangbei is accelerating the creation of a "one-kilometer" full-chain ecosystem integrating AI and hardware. It brings together not only 1.1 million types of electronic components but also new capabilities—such as AI chip solutions, on-device models, agent development, and scenario testing—creating the fastest pathway from technology to commercial product in the AI era.

It is this complete industrial chain that enables Huaqiangbei to rapidly capitalize on the industry trend of AI shifting from the "cloud" to the "edge" (end-user devices). Although the products in the third "AI Eight Steeds" cohort vary in category, they share a consistent logic: embedding algorithms and computing power into hardware to endow products with capabilities for perception, judgment, and interaction. AI has found the most comprehensive hardware gateway, while Huaqiangbei has discovered a new industrial frontier.

A "One-Kilometer" Industrial Closed Loop: Defining the Ultimate in Global Innovation Efficiency

The brain-computer interface (BCI) headband developed by BrainCo (Hongzhili Technology) was selected for the third batch of "Huaqiangbei AI Eight Steeds." Sales of the product rose by over 50% year-on-year, with domestic market growth exceeding 40%. Beyond sales figures, the founder was particularly impressed by the speed of iteration here. "There are so many factories nearby that can quickly create molds"—this casual remark highlights Huaqiangbei's true industrial advantage: it offers not just a complete supply chain, but astonishing industrial density. Elsewhere, stages such as design, component sourcing, structural tooling, software debugging, and prototype manufacturing might be scattered across different cities; in Huaqiangbei, however, these processes are compressed into a walkable one-kilometer radius.

The "one kilometer" here represents not just a spatial distance, but a measure of industrial efficiency. Take the AI recording card as an example: a product the size of a standard card must integrate capabilities such as audio pickup, noise reduction, data storage, battery power, wireless transmission, and large-model transcription within a compact form factor. In Huaqiangbei, companies can bring samples directly to a vendor's counter to compare specifications and make immediate decisions on the spot, slashing communication cycles from weeks to mere days or even hours.

This development model—characterized by near "face-to-face collaboration"—is the norm within Huaqiangbei’s industrial ecosystem. When an idea for an AI product arrives here, there is often no need to build a complete team from scratch: hardware resources like chips, sensors, and communication modules can be quickly matched, while large-model APIs, AI algorithms, and intelligent agent services can be integrated instantly. All these nodes of innovation are densely clustered within that single kilometer, collectively forming a complete "AI plus hardware" industrial ecosystem.

The "Huaqiangbei speed"—summarized as "design in the morning, prototype in the afternoon, mass production the next day, and global export within a week"—stems from the seamless, efficient interlocking of countless small nodes within this one-kilometer zone, a dynamic that is unleashing new power in the AI era. If European users prefer lightweight AI glasses, product designs can be rapidly adjusted; if EU standards change, new components can be sourced by the next day. While many overseas companies require months to complete a product upgrade, Huaqiangbei often achieves the same in just a few weeks. This systemic capability is the collective result of the entire district working in concert.

Soil Conducive to Experimentation: Continuously Nurturing Innovative "New Species"

A complete supply chain can manufacture products, but what fosters the continuous birth of innovation is an environment that allows innovation to flourish.

Leveraging a one-kilometer "AI + Hardware" ecosystem, Huaqiangbei has drastically lowered the barrier to entry for innovation. Startups do not need to build their own factories; a single person with an idea and a blueprint can mobilize the entire supply chain. Chip solutions are available nearby, AI model capabilities can be rapidly integrated, prototypes can be produced on the same day, and products can even reach the global market within weeks. This ability for a single idea to leverage the entire supply chain has made Huaqiangbei one of the most dynamic regions in China for AI hardware innovation and rapid product iteration.

This ecosystem also reduces the cost of trial and error. AI hardware products rarely reach perfection on the first attempt; they require continuous training and iteration based on real-world usage. Huaqiangbei has cultivated a unique atmosphere of innovation: build first and refine later; enter the application scenario first and optimize continuously. Numerous innovative teams can conduct experiments and validate their direction quickly and affordably; even if an attempt fails, they can rapidly adjust their plans and start again.

To sustain this innovative vitality, Huaqiangbei is continuously refining its innovation service system. It is developing the OPC Innovation Industry Community to provide services such as product showcases and industry networking for "one-person companies" and micro-enterprises. It recruits "New Quality Scenario Partners" globally, opening up streets, shopping malls, and specialized markets to host the premieres, debuts, exhibitions, and initial testing of products like robots, smart wearables, and brain-computer interfaces. It also regularly releases the "AI Eight Steeds" list, connecting innovative products with media, capital, and global buyers.

The government’s role is to open up application scenarios, organize scattered resources, and communicate market opportunities. Enterprises, engineers, merchants, makers, and buyers connect freely and grow collaboratively within this environment, forming an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem akin to a "tropical rainforest."

The key to determining whether an industrial ecosystem has truly taken shape lies in its ability to continuously spawn new products, new enterprises, and new market sectors.

The "Huaqiangbei AI Eight Steeds" lists—released over three consecutive editions—feature representative new products selected precisely from this one-kilometer ecosystem. From AI glasses, AI musical instruments, and AI cameras to AI-powered exoskeletons, brain-computer interfaces, AI PCs, and AI 3D printers, the rankings evolve with every edition; this transformation reflects both the continuous expansion of AI application scenarios and the steady strengthening of industrial innovation capabilities.

While the "Eight AI Steeds" showcase the latest products, the designation of the "New Four Titans"—comprising the low-altitude economy, robotics, smart wearables, and high-end chips—further delineates the strategic focus for the future industrial evolution of Huaqiangbei. All four sectors are rooted in Huaqiangbei’s existing industrial ecosystem and rely on the synergistic support of a localized "AI + Hardware" ecosystem.

While attendees at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference discuss the cutting edge of AI at the venue, consumers in Europe—thousands of miles away—are conducting cross-border transactions using AI glasses and translation earbuds sourced from Huaqiangbei.

The success story of these "gadgets sweeping across Europe" is underpinned by the robust "AI + hardware" ecosystem within this single square kilometer: a comprehensive industrial chain, a lightning-fast response cycle—"design in the morning, prototype in the afternoon, mass production by the next day"—and an environment that tolerates trial and error. It is also guided by the strategic directions charted by the "Eight AI Steeds" and the "New Four Heavenly Kings."

In the future, more as-yet-unnamed products, enterprises, and market sectors will emerge from this one-square-kilometer hub in Huaqiangbei and venture out into the global market.

Source: Yangcheng Pai | Editor: Zhang Mingyan