Chastened by a series of economic downturns that punished the hospitality industry, state leaders are working to broaden the economy.
Hefei has led the country in making electric vehicles and other tech products, but it still has not escaped a nationwide housing crisis.
Highway travel centers are adding amenities like restaurants and dog parks to accommodate the expanded dwell time of electric vehicle owners.
Automakers are pouring money into research and development facilities, creating spaces intended for creativity and collaboration among design and engineering teams.
As automakers promise to get rid of internal combustion engines, Heidelberg is trying to get rid of autos.