Updated Jul. 25, 2026

Alibaba Zhangbei

Zhangbei, Hebei, China

Alibaba Zhangbei is an operational AI data center with AI chips owned by Alibaba and used by Alibaba (likely). It hosts an estimated 32k H100-equivalents of compute, supported by 169 MW of IT power at a capital cost of $6.4 B. We estimate that it uses Nvidia H20 chips.

The timeline of IT power and compute capacity is based on satellite imagery, our cooling equipment power model, and chip efficiency.

Alibaba Zhangbei is part of China’s “Eastern Data Western Compute” (东数西算) project, launched in 2021, which favors Zhangbei county for its abundant wind and solar power.

OWNER Alibaba STATUS Operational USER Alibaba
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Satellite view of Alibaba Zhangbei

Satellite imagery

Latest: Dec. 22, 2025 · 2 high-res images
View satellite explorer →

Scale & specifications

CURRENT COMPUTE

32k H100-eq

6.31e19 8-bit OP/s

CURRENT IT POWER

169 MW

PROJECTED IT POWER

169 MW

CURRENT COST

$6.4 B

PROJECTED COST

$6.4 B

HardwareNvidia H20

CoolingUnknown

Buildout

Jul 23, 20240K H100e
Jul 23, 2024

New chiller configuration starts getting installed on Building 1-3.

Sep 17, 2025

Large substation is visibly connected to transmission lines. New chillers look fully installed on Building 1-3. Since power and cooling is apparently in place, we expect Building 1-3 are operational. Chillers are almost installed on Building 4-6, with construction equipment still around the building.

Compute
16kH100-eq
IT Power
85MW
Cost
$3.2B
Dec 23, 2025

Chillers look fully installed on Building 4-6. Some chillers on Building 4 and 5 appear to have snow in the fan holes, suggesting they are not operating and other chillers are operating (since warm air would melt the snow). There is still a bit of construction equipment around Building 6 so it may not be quite operational.

Compute
16kH100-eq
IT Power
85MW
Cost
$3.2B
Jan 3, 2026

Expect Building 4-6 have finished upgrading with new chillers.

Compute
32kH100-eq
IT Power
169MW
Cost
$6.4B

Sources

  1. Sinocities blog on Eastern Data Western Compute sites
  2. News on the Chahar site, with an aerial photo
  3. Hebei government page with 3D renderings of the Miaotan North and Chahar sites
  4. Announcement of the Hebei Zhangbei Intelligent Computing Center

Read more about our methodology.