With the theme of "Smart city, wonderful life", the TM Forum Smart City InFocus 2016 is scheduled to be held in Yinchuan, capital of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region from Sep 7 through 9.
From gates that recognize the faces of the residents in a community and bus stops that tell people when the next bus will arrive, to garbage cans that notify refuse collectors when they are full - smart devices are fast becoming a part of everyday life in Yinchuan.
When Ma Baoyu and three of his business partners went to Yinchuan Citizens Hall to register their new company, they were amazed when they were handed their business license in less than four hours.
China's northwestern regions are traditionally considered to be poor and less advanced. This is no longer true for Yinchuan, capital of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.