Terry Ko, an Australian national and senior manager for APAC at US-based tech company Moloco, has traveled to over 50 countries. Yet, it was a recent trip to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in China that left him convinced: China is no longer just a global manufacturer — it's the world's new trendsetter.

"China has arguably become the new 'cool kid on the block' - a transformation which many of its friends could not have imagined a decade ago," Ko said. "This new cool kid is intelligent, trendy and is dominant in its sphere of influence."

Ko, who visited Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong province's Shenzhen and Guangzhou in June as part of a young professionals' delegation, described the experience as stepping into the future. From AI-driven mobility to immersive cultural exchanges, he said the country is rewriting the global narrative — particularly for younger audiences who are highly attuned to innovation and lifestyle design.

"The technological innovations China has pioneered in the recent decade continue to astonish young travelers," Ko said. "From autonomous driverless vehicles to drones delivering food, making seamless payments with the palm of your hand, and the convenience of being able to execute all daily necessities within a single super-app like WeChat, China is playing the game at a different level."

What makes this shift especially significant, he noted, is the way technology is woven into everyday life. In China, futuristic tools are not just for show — they are widely accessible and actively used, creating a lived experience of convenience, efficiency, and innovation.

"Most travelers I speak to mention that they had thought China was very different to what it actually is today," he said. "It definitely has emerged as a digital powerhouse. People find it 'seamless' when using some of the digital tools offered in China. The perception of China is that it is a much more convenient and safe place to live and travel."

For Ko, who has worked in the tech industry for over a decade, the Greater Bay Area represents one of the most advanced innovation ecosystems he has seen globally.

"The innovations taking place here are a few steps ahead of the world," he said, pointing to examples such as palm-based payment, flying drones making food deliveries, service robots, AI in healthcare, and operational autonomous vehicles.

"This is only the beginning, and the pace of innovation will only accelerate, especially as the government is vested in supporting and incubating the startup ecosystems in the southern area of China, including Shenzhen, Guangdong, Zhuhai, and Macao."

One moment that stood out for Ko was seeing contactless palm payments in action — a development that felt like a science fiction vision made real. "Witnessing that has reinforced my perception that China is becoming a pioneer in lifestyle technology," he said. "It unlocks our imagination and encourages humanity to dream bigger."

For Ko, China's cool factor lies in its mindset and momentum. "People are becoming more and more global-minded, eager to show the world what China has achieved," he said. "New trends and creative innovations are originating from China, and it's the place to witness how the future is unfolding right in front of us."