Shandong has been taking steps to build digital infrastructure and data resource systems and bolster deeper integration of digital technologies with the economy, politics, culture, society and ecology.

Efforts have also been made to leverage cutting-edge digital technologies to accelerate industrial upgrading as well as make the lives of its citizens more convenient.

To achieve its goal of becoming a "digital province", the provincial government has mapped out a plan to apply cutting-edge digital technologies to all aspects of the province's development. The plan includes creating "smart communities" that have optimized home services and a "smart transportation network" that will reduce traffic congestion.

The province is presently aiming to build more than 2,000 smart communities by the end of this year. Community entertainment facilities, medical and education services and community-based e-finance and e-commerce networks will all be upgraded due to this initiative.

The move to make communities smarter has already paid dividends. A few days ago, the community property digital governance platform in the Xueyuan community in Taishan district, Tai'an city played a crucial role in saving the life of an elderly man named Li Feng when it detected that there was an abnormal flow of natural gas in his house. The platform automatically issued an alert, which led to the community staff quickly contacting the gas company to perform the required repairs.

Each residential building in the Xueyuan community is also equipped with flood detection, gas leakage, fire alarm and emergency call systems.