An impression of the new Hangzhou Silk City [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

China Silk City in Xiacheng district, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province will be redesigned by the China Academy of Art and will receive several state-of-the-art smart upgrades, local media reported on June 1.

The 30-year-old silk market will add another 11,000 square meters in construction area and a business complex with "one center, two streets, and multiple sections" will take shape.

According to the design team, the first-phase project will include the construction of a block combining traditional silk cultures and digital services; the second will include a fashion center, trade center, R&D facility, and international silk industry alliance.

A rendering of the tourist service center to be built in China Silk Road [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

The digitalized block will be located at the northern entrance to the West Jiankang Road, with facilities such as electronic billboards, autopilot dining cars, and smart benches.

The electronic billboards will be embedded with advanced AI and be able to talk with visitors; the dining cars can charge people's phones directly and provide translation services; and the smart benches will control their surface temperature based on real-time weather.

Taking advantage of the redesign and upgrades, China Silk City will break out of its traditional business models and work to develop night economy and online retail.

The market operators will cooperate with NetEase for co-branded products and use AR technologies to present some wonderful night scenery for visitors.

Local authorities in Xiacheng district said the upgrades will turn China Silk City into a platform to showcase Hangzhou's rich cultural resources.

Smart facilities on display [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

China Silk City is located in downtown Hangzhou and covers an area of 20,000 square meters. Its silk markets house 407 stores and contribute to an annual sales revenue exceeding 4 billion yuan ($562 million).