A poster for China's first blockbuster AAA game, Black Myth: Wukong. [Photo/Game Science]

Hangzhou – capital of East China's Zhejiang province – is widely known for being a city of innovation, having captured global attention with its emerging tech pioneers, collectively dubbed the "Six Tigers of Hangzhou".

Among its "Six Tigers" are Unitree, whose B2-W robotic dogs are capable of climbing mountains, wading, jumping and carrying heavy loads.

There is also DeepSeek, an AI startup whose latest V3 model is said to be comparable to leading models from heavyweights like OpenAI; and then there is Deep Robotics, which has completed China's first overseas power system inspection in Singapore.

Others on the list are ManyCore, a spatial intelligent enterprise with the world's largest interactive 3D data capability; BrainCo, which specializes in brain-computer interface or BCI technology; and Game Science, which hit the world's headlines last year with the launch of China's first blockbuster AAA game Black Myth: Wukong.

Overall, Hangzhou's thriving tech ecosystem has provided fertile ground for the breakthroughs.

The city boasts a strong foundation of research institutions like Zhejiang University, where collaborations between academia and industry have accelerated the transformation of scientific discoveries into real-world applications.

Zhejiang University's Shihu Mountain base, for example, hosts dozens of startups and innovation labs, many led by its alumni.

The city's appeal extends beyond infrastructure. Hangzhou's ability to attract and retain top talent has been instrumental in its success.

Many of the founders behind the "Six Tigers" were drawn to Hangzhou for its vibrant innovation environment, rich cultural atmosphere and access to resources.

Hangzhou's tech firms are also said to be setting global standards in emerging industries. Their ability to combine cutting-edge research with efficient industrialization has allowed them to achieve breakthroughs at lower costs and at faster speeds than their international counterparts.

As Hangzhou continues to blend its scientific ingenuity with industrial innovation, it is carving out a prominent position in the global technology landscape. The "Six Tigers" are viewed as being just the beginning of what promises to be a transformative era for the city.

A man in Hangzhou demonstrates playing a piano with a bionic hand. [Photo by Chen Tianhuai/tidenews.com.cn]