Deep in the mountainous terrain of Chongqing’s Qijiang district, a 1:1 replica of a broken radio receiver—the legendary 'Half Radio'—serves as more than a museum piece. Captured by Red Army General Wang Liang in 1930, this device could receive signals but not transmit them. Yet, for the Communist Party of China (CPC), it represents the humble genesis of the nation’s entire telecommunications apparatus and a symbol of persistence through scarcity.
Today, the legacy of that primitive receiver has been replaced by a sophisticated digital canopy. Qijiang recently became the first district in Chongqing to complete a comprehensive '5G-A' (5G-Advanced) network coverage project. This initiative upgraded over 280 base stations across 735 residential areas, resulting in a measured peak-hour speed increase of 86 percent. The project marks a significant leap from the 1930s era, where the district lacked even a single telephone wire.
The technological shift extends beyond mere connectivity into the realm of 'Smart City' governance. In communities like Yuxianqiao, China Telecom has integrated smart security, intelligent parking, and automated warning systems into the urban fabric. These digital tools have transformed the local administration, allowing for 'blind-spot-free' monitoring and algorithmic traffic management that residents claim has tangibly improved their sense of security.
Central to this transformation is the Qijiang Cloud Data Center, which began operations last year. By providing localized computing power, the center allows traditional industries in this historically industrial region to plug into the industrial internet as easily as accessing water or electricity. This infrastructure is positioned as the 'nest' to attract 'phoenixes'—new manufacturing startups and high-tech enterprises—to a region that was once defined solely by its rugged geography.
Ultimately, the 'Half Radio' narrative serves as a bridge between the CPC’s revolutionary past and its high-tech future. By framing 5G base stations and data hubs as the modern continuation of the Long March, Beijing reinforces a message of national self-reliance. In the valleys where soldiers once carried equipment by hand, 2,500 5G base stations now ensure that even the most remote mountain villages are integrated into China’s digital sovereign net.