This week, we visited Shenzhen and Guangzhou, China, to tour our business partner’s factory and attend an international electronics exhibition. It was our first visit to China in 15 years, since 2010.

These cities are known as some of the most advanced regions in China in terms of digital transformation (DX), and our experience confirmed this reputation.

Almost all vehicles on the streets, including motorcycles, were electric, reflecting a high level of environmental awareness. Payments were entirely digital—WeChat Pay and Alipay were the norm. Most restaurants allowed ordering and payment through WeChat mini-apps.

Robots were in regular use throughout the cities and in hotels, showcasing the daily integration of smart technology. We traveled by high-speed train, which offered superior services compared to Japan’s Shinkansen—ample luggage space, onboard meal ordering via WeChat, and waiting rooms with power outlets at every seat.

The electronics exhibition we attended was an international trade fair, open exclusively to foreign buyers. The venue was massive—easily more than ten times the size of Tokyo Big Sight—and hosted an overwhelming number of booths. Visitors came from around the world, including India, Africa, Europe, and North America, highlighting China’s central role in global trade.

While electric vehicles dominated the city, gas-powered cars were still common in suburban areas like where our partner is located, revealing a regional disparity in infrastructure development. Cash was still usable in places such as airports, subways, and convenience stores. Credit card usage was limited, but WeChat Pay and Alipay supported card payments, making transactions smooth overall.

Public Wi-Fi in hotels and airports blocked access to Google services, but we could use Google through roaming with a Japanese SIM card. Overall, we encountered fewer inconveniences than expected.

Witnessing the tremendous transformation since our last visit, we gained valuable insights and ideas for our future global business development.