What 72hrs in China taught me about the future (AI, EVs, more)

中国72小时：我所窥见的未来，AI、电动车及其他

my first in over 20 years. And what I saw was remarkable. The infrastructure puts most of the West to shame. The AI isn't just hype - it's working at serious scale. And the electric vehicles? They're about to steamroll the global auto industry.

这是我20多年来首次到访中国，所见所闻令人震撼。这里的基础设施让多数西方国家相形见绌；人工智能并非空谈——已在大规模落地应用；而电动汽车即将席卷全球汽车产业。

Infrastructure built at speed: Beiing's immaculate airport, 300 km/h rail to Tianin for £17, and pristine expressways that put US infrastructure to shame.
Verticalised AI in action: While Chinese labs trail US frontier models and face compute constraints, they're excelling in verticals - profitable robotaxs in Wuhan, healthcare AI analyzing 5.5 billion medical records, and Squirrel AI's $200m education platform that outperforms China's best human teachers.
EV cost leadership is set: Chinese electric vehicles are absolutely remarkable. Years of vicious domestic competition have created incredible innovation and cost discipline that will hit European carmakers like a sledgehammer.
The air quality transformation:*Beiing at 37°C was clean enough for a morning run, thanks to widespread EV adoption.
Scale that defies comprehension: Convention centers 100 times the size of Union Square, cities of 20 million people, and AI platforms serving tens of millions of users.

基建速建奇迹：北京一尘不染的机场、乘坐时速300公里直达天津的高铁票价只要17英镑，还有让美国基建自愧弗如的崭新高速公路。

垂直领域AI落地实践：尽管中国实验室在前沿模型领域落后于美国且面临算力限制，但在垂直场景中表现卓越——武汉已实现盈利的自动驾驶出租车、分析55亿份医疗记录的AI医疗系统，以及估值2亿美元的松鼠AI教育平台，其教学效果超越中国顶尖教师。

电动车成本优势成型：中国电动车堪称惊艳。多年激烈的国内竞争催生了卓越的创新能力与成本控制能力，如重锤般冲击欧洲汽车制造商。

空气质量蜕变：北京37摄氏度高温下，空气洁净得足以晨跑，这得益于电动车的广泛普及。

超乎想象的规模效应：面积相当于联合广场100倍的会展中心、两千万人口的城市，以及服务数千万用户的AI平台。

以下是各国网友的评论：

maggiechan33
The thing most westerns don't understand about China is that a majority of Being's policies are formulated for the PEOPLE.

多数西方人不理解中国的一点是：北京的大部分政策真的是为老百姓制定的。

eterelliott2914
The thing that always blows my mind about going to China is the people actually. Friendly, happy, intelligent and curious. Not the anger we experience here in the west. What we see in their built society is probably as much a reflection of that as it is a determination by their government.

每次去中国最让我震撼的其实是人。当地人友好、快乐、聪明又充满好奇心，跟我们西方社会的戾气完全不一样。现在看到的中国社会，既是政府执行力的体现，也是这种国民性格的映射吧。

peterelliott2914
I lived in Dalian for 3 years (in the north) Seafood capital of China. I hate seafood too lol. Apart from that it was good. Those northerners know how to party.

我在大连（北方）住过三年，那可是中国海鲜之都。不过我个人超讨厌吃海鲜哈哈！除了这个其他都很棒，北方人搞聚会真的很有一套。

wudiNB
There is no arguing in Chinese social media about politics, I think the politics made people hate each group

中国社交媒体上没什么政治争论，但我觉得正是政治让人们互相对立。

bmblizz1940
China infrastructure had advanced just by leaps and bounds. The amazing thing for me is there is no graffiti + all the airports train stations are spotlessly clean

中国基建发展真的是突飞猛进。最让我惊讶的是：公共场所没涂鸦，有机场火车站都干净到发亮！

willengel2458
Children are taught at an early stage to respect others and public property. public property paid with public funds belongs to all the people. Chinese kids and adults do not have that destructive behaviors.

孩子从小就被教育要尊重他人和公共财物。用公款买的公共设施是大家共有的，大人小孩都不会搞破坏。

maggiechan33
It flows from Confucian principles that the nation represents an extension of your family. The Chinese seek to maintain harmony and order in families and any social groups. Remember the theme of 2008 Being Olympics - a harmonious world

这其实源于儒家“家国同构”的理念。中国人不管是治家还是处社会，都追求和谐有序。记得2008北京奥运会主题就是“和谐世界”嘛。

manimalworks7424
Visited a small town probably nobody has heard of: Rizhao, in Shandong province. I was shocked to see the street had 12 lanes!

去过一个可能没人知道的山东小城：日照。吓我一跳，那街道居然有12车道！

kolavalentina
I agree! I spent a couple of weeks in Beiing/Shangai back in April which was my 1st trip since I visited Shenzhen way back in Nov 2003 for an International Security Conference. I was particularly impressed with the 350km/hr intercity trains!

同感！今年四月我去了北京/上海，这是继2003年11月去深圳开国际安全会议后第一次再访中国。时速350公里的城际高铁真的绝了！

robertwang7825
I would also add public safety , connectivity,public transport, services , communications , city planning, plentiful affordable food , clothes , electronics, furniture that is available everywhere. The entire city management from safety , cleanliness, public transport, connectivity, communications, planting of trees/shrubs , collection points for package delivery, rental bikes , rental phone chargers , location of fresh produce mkts., food delivery, cab hailing, ….. every aspect of modern city life is well thought out.

还要补充一点：中国的公共安全、网络覆盖、公共交通、城市服务、通信基建、规划布局，还有随处可见的平价衣食住行、电子产品、家具等等，从治安保洁到公交网络，从通信基站到绿植种植，从快递点到共享单车、共享充电宝，再到生鲜市场选址、外卖打车。现代城市生活的每个细节都规划得明明白白。

lilth501
With over a billion people travelling within China, even their train stations are the size of the Airport departure scale. The overall the Transport Infrastructure in China is truly amazing that integrates throughout the different modes of transportation.

中国每年有超过10亿人次国内出行，连火车站都修得跟机场出发大厅一样大。最绝的是整个交通网把高铁、公路、航空全串联起来了，这基建水平真的没话说。

maggiechan33
By the 'the Bay Area' he means the urbanized region delineated by Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Macau.

他说的“大湾区”指的是香港、深圳、广州、澳门连成的城市群。

passby8070
For those who have not been to China or for at least decade, it is almost certain that they will have cognitivive dissonance to a huge degrees. Well done for the great analysis!

没去过中国，或者十年没去过的人，对中国肯定会产生严重认知失调。这分析到位！

semitoivan8149
I'm sorry but imo Chinese car interiors are miles ahead of western car interiors the quality of materials, the fit and Fsh are just top quality meanwhile the western/German ones are too plasticy and lots piano black it gives a cheap look and feeling for high price with mediocre interior

说实话，我觉得中国车内饰比西方车强太多了。材料质感、装配工艺都是顶级水准，反观西方/德国车，塑料感太重还大量用钢琴黑面板，高价买个平庸内饰，看着就廉价。

Leoq-zk6wt
most of those "cameras" are actually just sensors, like monitoring traffic. If you drive one of the Teslas, you will know how many "cameras" are there on the car.

那些所谓的“摄像头”大部分其实是传感器，比如监控交通用的。开过特斯拉就知道车上到底有多少“摄像头”了。

davefroman4700
How can you possibly say that China is leaning into "Vertical AI" when they are open sourcing it all? And taking advantage of the lateral network effects that scenario creates in the digital era?

中国明明在搞AI开源，还利用数字时代的横向网络效应，怎么能说他们只搞“垂直领域AI”呢？

earthwizz
Did you notice the high regard teachers enjoy in China? Rather more than in the west. particularly in the public system.
It may well be just coincidence but many of the major shareholders of the finest mainstream media money can buy and, therefore, the ability to make up any stories they like, are people whose massive, carved in stone incomes have been dramatically impacted by Musk's transformational industries. None more so than the military/industrial complex, the owners of legacy aerospace, their golden egg money tree with suction pipes deeply embedded in the public purse. The almost redundant legacy aerospace.
They seem to have done a good job of the anti-Musk propaganda.

有没有注意到中国教师的社会地位比西方高很多，尤其是公立体系里的？这可能是巧合，但主流媒体的大股东们——那些靠传统产业赚得盆满钵满的人，收入被马斯克的颠覆性产业严重影响了。尤其是军工复合体和传统航空业老板，他们原本靠政府拨款赚得飞起，现在传统航空都快淘汰了。结果就是反马斯克的宣传搞得挺成功。

netscrooge
Until there are solar powered planes, no, please do not fly around the world merely to satisfy your curiosity.

除非有太阳能飞机，不然别为了满足好奇心就满世界飞。

jichaoking-j7w
people there are very poor. birth rate and economy are crumbling.

那里的人很穷，出生率和经济都在崩溃。

willgates8383
US bot so you say crumbling you must be describing the U.S. right

美国水军吧？你说“崩溃”，指的是美国吧？

lordlee6473
I would say it’s absolutely the opposite. People there are incredibly wealthy. People like you missed out so you are bitter AF

恰恰相反好吗？那里的人富得流油。你这种没见识的才会酸成这样。

user-vp5ui9zm9b
When was the last time you visited or lived in China?

你上一次去中国或者住中国是什么时候？

ralphzoombeenie2330
Where did you source that information??
I've just returned from my 6th trip in under two years. The birth rates are low in nearly all developed countries, the majority Chinese appear to be enjoying life and no sign of a crumbling economy.

你这消息哪来的？我两年内第六次从中国回来，几乎所有发达国家出生率都低，大部分中国人看着日子过得挺滋润，没见经济崩溃啊。

eterlynley
Certain cities are spectacular but is you travel outside these places it is not so nice. Very not so nice

有些城市确实很壮观，但去了周边就知道不怎么样了，真的不怎么样。

blackknight4996
Like where? You are such dull

比如哪里？你这人真无趣。

Reed-sh6wi
Name those places so we can see how they compare to Skidrow and Kensington Ave Philadelphia in the US.

你倒说说具体地方，看看能不能跟美国费城的贫民窟比。

allaboutchinaeverthing
There are 4 cities in our country with a population of over 20 million, 18 cities with a population of over 10 million, 91 cities with a population of over 5 million, and over 300 cities covered by high-speed railways. China has more mega cities than the entire West combined, and all high-speed railways in China are much more than the world combined. Don't go to big cities to play, small cities are more fun

中国有4个超2000万人口城市，18个超1000万，91个超500万，300多个城市通高铁。中国特大城市数量比整个西方加起来都多，高铁里程也超过世界总和。别老往大城市跑，小城更好玩。

user-vp5ui9zm9b
Spoken by a person who has never visited China.

说这话的人肯定没去过中国。

snyreader8888
You sure you have been to China or the small towns or the countryside

你确定去过中国的小城或农村？

Lost_Johnny
Actually the second and third tier cities are nice; even the outside is pleasant. You obviously don't speak from experience

其实二三线城市都很不错，周边乡村也舒服。你明显没亲身体验过。

skshum
From hong kong, travlled mainland china about 50 times past 3 years. Smaller cities are actually the attractions

我从香港来，过去三年跑了内地50多次，小城才是真正的亮点。

ralphzoombeenie2330
I've been to many third and fourth tier cities in China, still amazing compared with the same level cities elsewhere.

我去过中国很多三四线城市，比国外同级别城市强多了。

继续阅读：基础设施   人工智能   电动汽车

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