The eastern Chinese town of Wuzhen is buzzing with anticipation ahead of the 2nd World Internet Conference, which will be held there from Wednesday to Friday. [Special coverage]
Security has been beefed up, as 9 national leaders, over 50 foreign ministerial-level officials and hundreds of Internet tycoons from over 100 countries will be arriving in the picturesque ancient town.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend the event and deliver the keynote speech on Wednesday.
More than 2,000 participants from all around the world are expected to exchange their views during the 10 sub-forums on issues ranging from global Internet governance, cyber security, the Internet and sustainable development, Internet intellectual property rights, technological innovation and Internet philosophy.
Wuzhen is a picturesque water town located in east China's Zhejiang Province, not far from the headquarters of Chinese Internet giant Alibaba. Thanks to the Internet, the ancient town has quickly been transformed into a smart town, combining history with modern technologies.
Owing to complete WIFI coverage, Wuzhen has been able to develop "smart services" for both tourists and local residents. Almost all the shops there have an online presence, targeting many urban folks who are eager to get away from the hustle and bustle of large cities.
Apart from enhancing the tourist experience, the new technologies are also helping improve the lives of China's elderly. In December this year, Wuzhen announced that it will build the country's first Internet hospital.
