On the morning of August 28, 2026, the 2026 China International Big Data Industry Expo, or the Big Data Expo for short, officially opened in Guiyang, Guizhou Province. Hosted by the National Data Administration and organized by the People's Government of Guizhou Province, the event runs through August 30. Themed "Tokens: A New Pathway to Unleashing the Value of Data Elements," the Expo focuses on cutting-edge trends in the big data industry and the market-oriented allocation of data elements, comprehensively showcasing China's latest achievements and innovative practices in the digital economy.
The Expo features a massive exhibition scale, with a total floor space of 60,000 square meters, bringing together over 300 leading domestic and international sci-tech innovation enterprises. The exhibition is meticulously divided into five thematic zones: Computing Infrastructure, Data Supply, Model-Driven Applications, Security Assurance, and Intelligent Experience. It also features diverse exhibition areas, including the Guest Province Pavilion, the Pavilion for the Digital and Intelligent Integration of Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Commerce, and the International Data Exchange Pavilion. Among these, the Model-Driven Pavilion has become the focal point of the event, showcasing the latest technological breakthroughs in three frontier fields: large models, AI agents, and generative AI. This zone gathers a group of industry-leading sci-tech enterprises, including Zhipingfang, Jiangxing Intelligence, Kuawei Intelligence, Yunshenchu, Gongjiangxing Intelligence, and Modata Factory, vividly illustrating the broad prospects of AI technology empowering all walks of life.
Beyond the extensive static displays, the Expo innovatively hosted a "Data Market" event during its run. This initiative aims to break down data silos, bring dormant data resources to the market, and facilitate the transformation of data from mere resources into valuable assets. This innovative move attracted the active participation of over 120 enterprises nationwide, who gathered to explore business models and compliance pathways for data trading, injecting new vitality into the flourishing development of the data elements market.
"Tokens," as the core concept of this year's Expo, profoundly points to a new pathway for unleashing the value of data elements. The introduction of this concept marks a significant upgrade in the industry's understanding of how to mine data value. Data is no longer just the underlying "resource" to be stored and managed; rather, it must be transformed into a core "asset" that can be efficiently understood and utilized by AI systems through refined annotation, governance, and modeling. Taking Nanming District in Guiyang as an example, the district has closely aligned with the "Token" theme, focusing on three key links: data collection, data annotation, and AI models. By delving into token technology innovation and scenario implementation, it has provided a vivid regional practical sample for the in-depth development of data elements.
From a macro perspective of industrial evolution, the thematic shifts of the Expo itself clearly outline the development trajectory of China's big data industry. Early editions of the Expo focused more on the infrastructure of "big data" itself, such as data collection, storage, computing, and visualization. This year's theme of "Tokens," however, goes straight to deeper value mining: when data volumes reach a massive scale, how to make data truly "speak," how to transform it into "tokens" that AI can efficiently utilize, and how to unleash its multiplier effect. This shift marks that China's big data industry has officially moved from the "infrastructure construction" stage into a new stage of "value mining" and "application empowerment." Against this backdrop, Guiyang's strategic positioning as "China's Data Valley" is being continuously consolidated. Since the inaugural Expo in 2015, Guiyang has hosted this national-level big data event for many consecutive years. With 60,000 square meters of exhibition space, the gathering of over 300 enterprises, and the scientific layout of five thematic zones, it fully demonstrates that the Expo has successfully evolved from a regional trade show into a top-tier big data industry platform with national and even international influence.
Currently, with the explosive development of AI large models and generative AI technologies, the core value of data as the "fuel" for AI is being re-evaluated by the industry. The cutting-edge technologies such as large models and AI agents showcased at this year's Expo, along with supporting links like data annotation and token technology, have jointly built a complete industrial chain from "data resources" to "AI applications." The Expo is not only a window to showcase cutting-edge technological achievements but also a crucial hub for various industry players to deepen exchanges and cooperation and promote the market-oriented allocation of data elements. Looking ahead, with the continuous improvement of fundamental data systems and the ongoing iteration of technologies, data elements will undoubtedly unleash more surging economic value, providing strong momentum for the high-quality development of the digital economy.