Chindata and HEC Group Break Ground on Integrated AI and Data Center Hub in Hubei
April 7, 2026
In a move highlighting the strategic expansion of digital infrastructure into China's central regions, data center operator Chindata Group Holdings Ltd. and technology conglomerate HEC Group have broken ground on a new, integrated campus in Hubei Province. The project underscores the growing demand for computing power, particularly for artificial intelligence applications, beyond China's traditional coastal tech hubs.
The companies announced that construction began on April 3 for the facility located in Yidu City, near the Qinglin Temple in Gaobazhou Town. The 6.3-hectare campus is designed to host a 7.5-megawatt (MW) data center alongside a dedicated "AI showcase and academic exchange center," aiming to foster industry collaboration and technological demonstration. An estimated completion date for the project has not been disclosed.
This joint venture follows HEC Group's acquisition of Bain Capital's equity stake in Chindata, a transaction initiated in September 2025 and finalized this past January. The partnership leverages Chindata's expertise in hyperscale data center operations with HEC's industrial and technological resources.
Hubei Province is emerging as a notable location for data center investments, partly due to access to stable power sources. The region is already home to projects like the Dongyuemiao data center, developed by the state-owned Three Gorges Group, which leverages proximity to the world's largest hydroelectric dam. Other operators, including Centrin Data, also have a presence in the provincial capital of Wuhan. Chindata's own portfolio spans major economic zones including Beijing, the Greater Bay Area, and several other provinces, with plans for further expansion into Inner Mongolia.
The development signals a continued trend of building digital infrastructure in areas with favorable energy conditions and government support, catering to the escalating needs of AI development and enterprise digitalization across central China.
Source: datacenterdynamics
Chindata and HEC Group Commence Construction on AI-Ready Data Center Campus in Central China
