A Chain-Anchor Landing: Lingang's New Fulcrum for Digital Cultural Export
On August 18, 2026, the Lingang New Area Administration and Chinese Online Group signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement. Chen Jinshan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Lingang Party Working Committee, and Tong Zhilei, Chairman and General Manager of Chinese Online, witnessed the signing. Chinese Online, a leading digital culture enterprise with over 5.6 million digital content IP resources and a global distribution platform covering more than 200 countries and regions, will establish a digital culture export creation base in Lingang. The base will feature an AIGC content creation and global operations center, a digital cultural innovation incubation platform, a cultural-tourism integration communication center, and a digital content talent cultivation base.
This move is not coincidental. Lingang has been rapidly building a full digital culture industry chain, focusing on AIGC R&D and IP incubation for export. Over 20 specialized digital culture enterprises and nearly 100 digital culture OPCs (One-Person Companies) have already settled, covering IP incubation, content production, tool R&D, and overseas distribution. Chinese Online's arrival injects a powerful "chain-anchor" driving force into this ecosystem. Leveraging Lingang's international data processing hub pilot, comprehensive cross-border data compliance system, and intelligent computing infrastructure, Chinese Online can fully utilize its AI content production, multilingual localization, and global operations capabilities to achieve a closed loop from IP incubation to worldwide distribution.
From IP to Cultural Tourism: Lingang's Practice of the "New Three Cultural Exports"
The core highlight of this cooperation is the creation of the nation's first full-chain base for the "New Three Cultural Exports" (online literature, comic dramas, and short dramas). Chinese Online has already established an industrialized AIGC content production system, connecting these three content forms. In Lingang, the base will focus on building an AIGC content creation and global operations center, utilizing Lingang's computing power and cross-border data advantages for AI content production, multilingual adaptation, and overseas market operations. The digital cultural innovation incubation platform will nurture high-quality original IPs and support creators, while the cultural-tourism integration center will combine digital IPs with Lingang's local tourism resources to develop immersive digital cultural and tourism products.
Notably, Lingang has established a comprehensive data cross-border compliance system, providing institutional safeguards for global content distribution. Chinese Online can channel overseas operational data back to Lingang for compliance analysis and iterative optimization, guiding content production in reverse. Additionally, the digital content talent base will collaborate with universities and industry institutions to cultivate professionals in AI creation and international operations. This synergy is expected to position Lingang as a leading digital culture export hub, promoting Chinese culture globally in a more modern and international manner.
Ecosystem Synergy: The Chain-Anchor Effect on Industrial Agglomeration
Chinese Online's landing is more than a single project; it represents a strategic strengthening of Lingang's digital culture ecosystem. As a chain-anchor enterprise, Chinese Online will attract upstream and downstream partners to Lingang, further refining the industry links from IP incubation, AIGC industrialized production, to global distribution and cultural-tourism transformation. This will create synergies with existing digital culture enterprises in the area, enhancing AIGC content innovation and domestic IP export practices. This "chain-anchor + ecosystem" model is a hallmark of Lingang's industrial development approach, leveraging leading companies to catalyze the growth and upgrade of the entire industry chain.
For private enterprises, Chinese Online's Lingang move offers key insights. First, leverage regional policy advantages—Lingang's unique strengths in data cross-border, computing power support, and special subsidies can accelerate a company's internationalization. Second, embrace AIGC technology—Chinese Online's industrialized production demonstrates the transformative power of technology in the cultural sector. Third, focus on full-chain IP development—diversify from single content forms to multi-format synergy to unlock long-term IP value. Lingang is building a global stage for digital culture, and the key for private enterprises lies in seizing this window to deeply integrate their strengths with Lingang's ecosystem.
Source: Lingang New Area Administration Official Website (lingang.gov.cn)