Shenzhen launches China’s first 10,000 card AI cluster powered by domestic Huawei chips
Shenzhen has taken a major step in China’s push for self reliance in advanced computing by activating the country’s first 10,000 card intelligent computing cluster built entirely on domestically developed AI chips. The new system, powered by Huawei’s Ascend 910C processors, delivers a total computing capacity of around 11,000 petaflops, marking one of the most significant infrastructure upgrades in China’s artificial intelligence ecosystem. The development reflects accelerating efforts to strengthen national capabilities in high performance computing as demand for large scale AI training and deployment continues to rise across industries.
The cluster significantly expands Shenzhen’s existing computing infrastructure, which already included a 3,000 petaflop system launched last year that quickly reached full capacity. With both systems now combined, the city’s total intelligent computing power has reached approximately 14,000 petaflops, positioning Shenzhen as one of the leading hubs for AI infrastructure development in China. The rapid utilization of earlier resources highlights strong demand from enterprises, research institutions and technology firms that require large scale computing for machine learning, generative AI models and industrial applications.
The use of Huawei’s Ascend 910C chips is particularly important as it signals China’s continued progress in building a domestic semiconductor ecosystem capable of supporting advanced AI workloads. These processors are designed to handle intensive training tasks while optimizing energy efficiency and scalability, two critical factors in modern data center operations. By deploying a large scale cluster based on local technology, Shenzhen is reducing reliance on foreign hardware while ensuring greater control over performance, security and long term supply stability in an increasingly competitive global technology environment.
Officials and industry participants see the project as part of a broader national strategy to accelerate artificial intelligence development through infrastructure investment. Large computing clusters serve as the backbone for training next generation AI models, enabling faster processing, improved accuracy and reduced development cycles. The expansion also supports a wide range of applications including smart manufacturing, autonomous systems, financial modeling and urban management, areas where China is actively integrating AI into economic and industrial transformation initiatives.
The activation of the cluster comes at a time when global competition in AI computing power is intensifying, with governments and companies investing heavily in data centers and specialized hardware. Shenzhen’s growing capacity is expected to attract further innovation and investment, strengthening its position as a core technology hub. As demand for computing continues to scale alongside advancements in AI models, infrastructure projects of this size are becoming essential to maintaining momentum in the development of cloud computing and intelligent systems.
