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● TRACKER Updated 3d ago · 46 sources tracked

China AI: Data centres rise from the rolling plains of Inner Mongolia

Envision Group is building the Galaxy Campus data center in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, with a target completion date of 2028. The facility aims to support one million AI accelerators and will have a capacity of 3GW. The company reports that the site is already running live workloads using what it claims is the world's first 800VDC direct-current setup. This development is part of a broader shift in Ulanqab from an agricultural center to a primary AI computing hub for China.

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  • ✓ Envision Group plans to finish the Galaxy Campus data center in Ulanqab by 2028.
  • ✓ The Galaxy Campus will be a 3GW data center.
🛡️ Source Corroboration: 46 independent reporting domains (80% confidence) ⏱ Read time: ~2 min

What changed

Envision Group added a target of one million AI accelerators and claims to be running live workloads via an 800VDC system.

Live updates

  1. Envision Group expands Galaxy AI site in Inner Mongolia

    Envision Group is building the Galaxy Campus data center in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, with a target completion date of 2028. The facility aims to support one million AI accelerators and will have a capacity of 3GW. The company reports that the site is already running live workloads using what it claims is the world's first 800VDC direct-current setup. This development is part of a broader shift in Ulanqab from an agricultural center to a primary AI computing hub for China.

    Why it matters

    Beijing is recasting inland regions to house compute clusters. Ulanqab's transition from potato farming to AI infrastructure leverages the region's wind and solar energy resources.

    What is confirmed

    • Envision Group plans to finish the Galaxy Campus data center in Ulanqab by 2028.
    • The Galaxy Campus will be a 3GW data center.

    Still unconfirmed

    • The Galaxy AI site uses the world's first 800VDC data center setup to run live workloads.
    • The Galaxy Campus aims to support one million AI accelerators.
    • Ulanqab is transforming from a potato-growing city into one of China's fastest-growing AI compute clusters.

    What to watch next

    • Verification of the 800VDC system performance
    • Confirmation of the AI accelerator count upon completion
    • Updates on the total number of data center projects in Ulanqab
    Sources used for this update (4)
    1. streamlinefeed.co.ke — Envision Targets 2028 Completion for Massive 3GW Inner ...
    2. adalytica.com — Ulanqab Becomes a China AI Compute Hub | Adalytica
    3. www.siliconreport.com — Envision claims world's first 800VDC data center in China
    4. emergent.sh — Envision Deploys First 800V System for Green AI Power
    confidence 80%

  2. China's Inner Mongolia to host 3GW Galaxy AI Data Center by 2028

    Envision Group plans to complete its Galaxy Data Center Campus in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, by the end of 2028. The campus will be a massive 3GW data center. Ulanqab is already transforming into a primary artificial intelligence computing hub with nearly 90 data centre projects occupying the grasslands, propelled by abundant local wind and solar resources.

    Why it matters

    Ulanqab's transformation into an AI hub is part of China's national infrastructure strategy. The region's computing capacity nearly quadrupled in less than two years to reach 363,000 petaflops by August 2026. Local authorities plan to expand beyond basic infrastructure into token trading and artificial intelligence applications.

    What is confirmed

    • Ulanqab has nearly 90 data centre projects occupying the grasslands.
    • Regional computing capacity nearly quadrupled in less than two years to reach 363,000 petaflops by August 2026.
    • Envision Group plans to complete its Galaxy Data Center Campus in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, by the end of 2028.

    What to watch next

    • Completion of Envision's Galaxy Data Center Campus by 2028
    • Expansion of local authorities into token trading and artificial intelligence applications
    • Further growth of Ulanqab's computing capacity
    Sources used for this update (2)
    1. constructionreviewonline.com — 3GW Galaxy AI Data Center Campus in China to be complete by ...
    2. www.energyconnects.com — Envision to Complete Massive Inner Mongolia Data Center by 2028
    confidence 100%

  3. Ulanqab Emerges as Northern China AI Hub

    Ulanqab in northern China is transforming into a primary artificial intelligence computing hub under a national infrastructure strategy. Nearly ninety data centre projects now occupy the grasslands of this single northern city, propelled by abundant local wind and solar resources. Regional computing capacity nearly quadrupled in less than two years to reach 363,000 petaflops by August 2026. Local authorities plan to expand beyond basic infrastructure into token trading and artificial intelligence applications, connecting the region to Beijing via a high-speed rail journey lasting roughly 100 minutes.

    Why it matters

    The expansion reflects a national infrastructure push to build computing capacity in resource-rich northern areas while leveraging proximity to major political and economic centers like Beijing. This geographic shift addresses soaring technological demands by pairing massive data centre construction with local renewable energy generation from wind and solar sources.

    What is confirmed

    • Ulanqab is located in north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.
    • The travel time by high-speed rail from Ulanqab to Beijing is roughly 100 minutes.

    What to watch next

    • Further expansion of token trading and artificial intelligence applications by local authorities
    • Additional updates on regional computing capacity exceeding 363,000 petaflops
    Sources used for this update (2)
    1. chinabeyondthewall.org — Inner Mongolia Grassland City Becomes AI Hub - China Beyond ...
    2. thepublicpurview.com — Grassland city in N China's Inner Mongolia transforms into an ...
    confidence 100%

  4. Inner Mongolia Emerges as Major AI Computing Hub

    Ulanqab in Inner Mongolia is transforming from an agricultural region into a primary artificial intelligence computing hub under China's national infrastructure strategy. Massive data centres are rising across the grasslands to meet surging technological demands, driven by abundant local wind and solar resources. CNN reports that nearly ninety data centre projects are located in this single northern city. Regional computing capacity nearly quadrupled in less than two years to reach 363,000 petaflops by August 2026. Local authorities aim to expand beyond basic infrastructure into token trading and artificial intelligence applications.

    Why it matters

    This expansion implements China's East Data, West Computing initiative launched in 2022 to shift data processing workloads from booming coastal areas to resource-rich inland regions. Beijing has pledged an estimated $560 billion to the national data centre buildout. While the area offers green energy advantages, the massive infrastructure requires significant electricity and water to prevent server overheating.

    What is confirmed

    • Ulanqab in Inner Mongolia is accelerating computing infrastructure development under China's national East Data, West Computing project.
    • Inner Mongolia's computing capacity nearly quadrupled in less than two years, reaching 363,000 petaflops by August 2026.

    Still unconfirmed

    • CNN found nearly 90 data center projects in one Inner Mongolia city, backed by an estimated $560 billion pledge from Beijing.

    What to watch next

    • Execution of Ulanqab's three-year development strategy to build a token city.
    • Management of electricity and water resource demands by data centers in the region.
    Sources used for this update (6)
    1. news.cgtn.com — How a north China city is powering AI development with green ...
    2. www.ainchina.com — Concrete Empire: China's $560 Billion Data Center Gold Rush
    3. en.qstheory.cn — Inside China's "unlikely" AI computing hub - Qiushi
    4. www.szzg.gov.cn — Digital News_English_数字中国建设峰会
    5. en.people.cn — Grassland city in N China's Inner Mongolia transforms into an ...
    6. global.chinadaily.com.cn — Hohhot's role key in 'East Data, West Computing' strategy
    confidence 90%

  5. China Builds AI Computing Hub Across Inner Mongolia Grasslands

    Data centres are rising from the grasslands of Ulanqab in northern China, transforming the former potato capital into a major hub for artificial intelligence computing. Major technology companies are moving into the area, where towering cranes fill the skyline just a four-hour drive northwest of Beijing. This expansion places intensive digital infrastructure in a region historically removed from the country's booming coastal industrial towns, tapping into local geographic advantages to meet the rising computational demands of the technology sector.

    Why it matters

    Inner Mongolia features climate and energy conditions well-suited for heavy computational infrastructure, drawing major tech firms away from congested coastal centres. This northern territory provides an alternative base for nationwide artificial intelligence operations as Beijing seeks to secure domestic self-sufficiency in advanced technologies. The ongoing transformation turns pastoral land into industrial real estate dedicated to supporting large-scale data processing.

    What is confirmed

    • Ulanqab sits a four-hour drive northwest of Beijing across the Great Wall in Inner Mongolia.
    • The city was once known as China's potato capital.
    • Major tech companies and VNET Group cloud computing centres are moving into the grasslands.

    What to watch next

    • Further announcements regarding capacity additions from tech companies operating in Ulanqab
    • Updates on green energy integration metrics for the Inner Mongolia computing hubs
    Sources used for this update (3)
    1. transcripts.cnn.com — Vatican Says Pope Leo Recovering After Lung Cancer Surgery; Bangkok Hosts First CNN Global Perspectives In Asia; MI5 Chief Warns o....
    2. www.globaltimes.cn — Inside China's 'unlikely' AI computing hub - Global Times
    3. english.scio.gov.cn — Inside China's 'unlikely' AI computing hub - english.scio.gov.cn
    confidence 100%

  6. Inner Mongolia Rises as China's AI Data Center Hub

    Inner Mongolia is transforming into a core hub for Chinese artificial intelligence infrastructure, driven by cold and dry weather alongside mature green-energy assets. The northern city of Ulanqab has shifted from potato-growing pastureland into a computing power heartland, hosting nearly 90 planned data centers. Local authorities in the autonomous region are leveraging vast renewable energy resources to build a competitive edge in green computing. This expansion forms part of Beijing's broader technology strategy as competition with the United States over artificial intelligence intensifies.

    Why it matters

    Data centers accounted for about 1.5 percent of global electricity consumption in 2024, with electricity use projected to more than double by 2030, according to International Energy Agency data cited by local officials. China is accelerating construction of massive data facilities to use artificial intelligence infrastructure in securing a technological advantage for the 21st century. However, the rapid buildout faces ongoing hurdles including hardware constraints and social concerns.

    What is confirmed

    • The northern city of Ulanqab in Inner Mongolia is emerging as a major Chinese AI data centre hub powered by renewable energy.
    • Nearly 90 data centres are planned or under development for Ulanqab to support China's artificial intelligence infrastructure push.
    • Cold, dry weather and mature green-energy infrastructure have powered Ulanqab's shift from potato-growing pastureland into a computing power heartland.

    Still unconfirmed

    • DeepSeek is reportedly preparing to develop a 1GW AI data center expansion in Inner Mongolia.

    What to watch next

    • Progression of DeepSeek's reported 1GW data center expansion in Inner Mongolia
    • Developments regarding hardware and chip constraints affecting the Inner Mongolia data center buildout
    • Responses to social concerns linked to the rapid expansion of rural data centers
    Sources used for this update (16)
    1. www.cnn.com — Breaking News, Latest News and Videos | CNN
    2. www.scmp.com — China Breaking News & Headlines | South China Morning Post
    3. en.wikipedia.org — China - Wikipedia
    4. www.cnn.com — China news - breaking news, video, headlines and opinion | CNN
    5. theworldfactbook.org — China Facts, Map, Population, GDP | The World Factbook
    6. www.afr.com — China’s artificial intelligence data centre buildout takes ...
    7. english.scio.gov.cn — Inner Mongolia to turn its vast renewable energy into ...
    8. www.scmp.com — Rural Inner Mongolia takes centre stage in China’s data ...
    9. www.cnn.com — The US is fighting over data centers. China is building them, and fast
    10. www.kvor.com — China Expands AI Data Centers as Technology Race With US Intensifies
    11. www.computeforecast.com — DeepSeek Targets 1GW AI Data Center Expansion in Inner Mongolia
    12. global.chinadaily.com.cn — Inner Mongolia leads way in green computing, data storage
    confidence 90%

  7. Ulanqab becomes AI hub as China integrates computing into national infrastructure

    Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, has secured 12.5GW of committed data center capacity, surpassing the scale of OpenAI's Stargate program. The city leverages its cool climate, wind power, and proximity to Beijing to attract over 100 projects, including Envision Group's million PFLOPS mega-cluster. This expansion aligns with China's 15th Five-Year Plan, which incorporates a nationwide computing power network into its national six networks infrastructure framework to support high-quality development of artificial intelligence and large-scale data processing.

    Why it matters

    China is converting industrial surpluses in solar and green energy into a strategic advantage for AI. By moving compute westward to regions like Inner Mongolia, the state reduces cooling costs and power strain on coastal cities. This shift supports a broader effort to build domestic hardware and software alternatives to US technology.

    What is confirmed

    • Ulanqab has 12.5GW of committed data center capacity.
    • The city of Ulanqab uses wind power and a cool climate to sustain its data centers.
    • China's computing power network is now part of the national six networks infrastructure framework for the 2026-30 Five-Year Plan.
    • DeepSeek and Huawei Technologies Co. developed software to program AI chips to replace Nvidia Corp.

    Still unconfirmed

    • China's solar overcapacity is being shifted into a strategic advantage to power AI data centers.
    • Ulanqab's committed capacity is more than OpenAI's entire Stargate program.

    What to watch next

    • Adoption rates of the DeepSeek-Huawei programming tools among other Chinese AI firms
    • Implementation milestones of the 15th Five-Year Plan computing network
    • New capacity commitments in Inner Mongolia beyond the current 12.5GW
    Sources used for this update (7)
    1. finance.yahoo.com — DeepSeek Unveils Huawei AI Chip Tools That May Replace Nvidia’s
    2. www.youngpostclub.com — Spark Deep Dive: Ulanqab emerges as a green tech powerhouse
    3. global.chinadaily.com.cn — China bolsters construction of national computing network
    4. english.ckgsb.edu.cn — Solar titan - CKGSB Knowledge
    5. www.ainchina.com — The Token Capital: How a Potato Town in Inner Mongolia Out ...
    6. chinatechbite.substack.com — This Small Chinese City Just Got Named by Wall Street, Thanks ...
    7. asiaai.substack.com — China's AI Data Centres: Power and Cooling Demands Force ...
    confidence 90%

  8. Envision Group launches massive AI computing cluster in Inner Mongolia

    Envision Group launched an AI computing mega-cluster with a computing capacity of one million PFLOPS in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia. The facility spans an area the size of 20 football pitches and ranks among the largest of its kind globally. Located about 240 kilometers from Beijing, Ulanqab has attracted more than 100 data centre projects, transforming the city of fewer than 2 million people into a major hub for China's national artificial intelligence infrastructure expansion and computing competition against Washington.

    Why it matters

    Ulanqab sits in northern China and plays a central role in Beijing's strategy to scale up artificial intelligence capabilities. The region provides essential geographic and resource advantages for massive infrastructure projects. This growth reflects the broader national push to build out heavy computing power across northern pastures.

    What is confirmed

    • Envision Group put its AI computing mega-cluster into operation in Ulanqab last month with a computing capacity of one million PFLOPS.
    • The Envision Group facility covers an area roughly the size of 20 football pitches, placing it among the largest facilities of its kind in the world.
    • Ulanqab has attracted more than 100 data centre projects to date.

    What to watch next

    • Further operational updates and capacity metrics from Envision Group's Ulanqab mega-cluster
    • Additional data centre project launches in the Inner Mongolia region
    Sources used for this update (2)
    1. en.ce.cn — Inside China's "Token Capital": Ulanqab's Zero-Carbon ...
    2. pequityresearchchina.substack.com — SemiAnalysis's China Datacenter Model: The Chinese AI ...
    confidence 100%

  9. China Builds AI Data Centres in Inner Mongolia

    China is scaling up artificial intelligence infrastructure by constructing dozens of data centres across Inner Mongolia. The city of Ulanqab, previously known as a potato capital, now serves as a key site in Beijing's computing competition against Washington. Operational facilities include the VNET Bayin Ulanqab site, which hosts an estimated 123k H100-equivalents of AI compute supported by 221 MW of IT and utilizes AI chips owned by VNET and possibly used by ByteDance. Meanwhile, the startup DeepSeek plans to expand its high-performance computing capacity by developing a large-scale facility in the region.

    Why it matters

    This infrastructure push coincides with an upcoming Xi-Trump summit in Washington and occurs while global leaders debate artificial intelligence safety. China is advancing its industry by constructing massive data centres, reclaiming top talent, and betting on open-source artificial intelligence. The region's expansion leverages rural provinces to meet the heavy computational demands of modern machine learning models.

    What is confirmed

    • China is building dozens of data centres in Inner Mongolia as part of its artificial intelligence infrastructure expansion.
    • The VNET Bayin Ulanqab operational AI data center hosts an estimated 123k H100-equivalents of AI compute supported by 221 MW of IT.
    • The VNET Bayin Ulanqab facility holds AI chips owned by VNET and possibly used by ByteDance.

    Still unconfirmed

    • DeepSeek is reportedly preparing a major expansion of its AI computing infrastructure by developing a large-scale data center in Inner Mongolia.
    • DeepSeek is planning to install at least 160 000 Huawei Ascend 950DT artificial intelligence accelerators at a new data centre in Inner Mongolia.
    • DeepSeek reportedly plans a 1GW AI data center expansion in Inner Mongolia.

    What to watch next

    • Official announcements or regulatory filings regarding DeepSeek's 1GW data center expansion and Huawei chip installations in Inner Mongolia.
    • Developments from the upcoming Xi-Trump summit in Washington concerning bilateral technology and AI competition.
    Sources used for this update (7)
    1. www.bbc.com — China AI: Data centres rise from the rolling plains of Inner Mongolia
    2. www.mojkraj.hr — China builds dozens of data centres in Inner Mongolia
    3. cxoxperts.com — How China Is Turning Rural Provinces Into AI Superpowers
    4. epoch.ai — VNET Bayin Ulanqab | AI data centers | Epoch AI
    5. en.reflect.ee — Data centers conquer Ulanqab: China's potato capital becomes ...
    6. www.itbear.com — DeepSeek Reportedly Plans 1GW AI Data Center Expansion in ...
    7. thearabianpost.com — DeepSeek readies Huawei chip cluster for Inner Mongolia
    confidence 90%

  10. China Expands AI Data Center Network in Inner Mongolia

    China is expanding its data center network across the rolling plains of Inner Mongolia to fuel its artificial intelligence drive. Specifically, the city of Ulanqab has laid out plans for five million server racks. This push positions the region at the center of a high-stakes computing race against the United States. Infrastructure development in northern China aims to meet the massive computational demands of modern machine learning models and large-scale artificial intelligence applications. The expansion leverages local resources to scale up processing capacity.

    Why it matters

    Inner Mongolia has increasingly become a strategic hub for digital infrastructure due to its geographic and power advantages. The region supports massive computational facilities needed for the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence technologies. This expansion directly addresses the hardware bottlenecks faced by developers in major urban technology centers.

    What is confirmed

    • China is expanding its data center network in Inner Mongolia for its artificial intelligence drive.
    • Data centres are rising from the rolling plains of Inner Mongolia.
    • Ulanqab plans to host five million server racks in the artificial intelligence compute race with the United States.

    What to watch next

    • Actual deployment timelines for the five million server racks in Ulanqab
    • Power grid and energy sourcing announcements for the Inner Mongolia data centres
    • Further policy measures or investments in the United States-China artificial intelligence compute race
    Sources used for this update (3)
    1. BBC — China AI: Data centres rise from the rolling plains of Inner Mongolia
    2. SuaraGarut.ID — China Expands Data Center Network in Inner Mongolia for AI Drive
    3. IntelliNews — China's Ulanqab plans 5mn server racks in AI compute race with US
    confidence 100%
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