Land on CodeLand
An annual flagship event of OPC Digital Creation Hub
The 1st Hainan Free Trade Port AI Hackathon
Hainan is hosting its first-ever AI hackathon
Applications close Nov 15 · No entry fee
Bring your laptop to the island and build a working AI product in 48 hours
This isn't a contest for writing proposals. The challenges come from real problems Hainan companies are wrestling with right now. You and your teammates get two days to turn one into a prototype that actually runs and can be demoed, then take the stage on Sunday afternoon to present it to the company that set the challenge. Strong projects can sign a pilot agreement of intent with the company after the event.
Land on CodeLand in 52 seconds
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Why it's worth coming
Real problems, not hypothetical ones.
Companies write the challenges from their actual business: where things stand, where it hurts, and what counts as done. The challenge companies are on site to answer questions on Friday evening.
18 awards — odds are you won't leave empty-handed.
Every track has Gold, Silver and Bronze awards: RMB 10,000 for Gold, RMB 5,000 for Silver and RMB 3,000 for Bronze. With 20–30 teams in total, at least 60% will take home an award.
Your work goes somewhere.
Winning projects can sign a pilot agreement of intent with the company that set the challenge; your team keeps the copyright.
Someone helps you finish.
15 guides each look after 2 teams, check in with you every 6 hours, and help you cut your goal down to something you can actually finish.
No entry fee, plus a set compute allocation for every team.
A technical starter kit goes out a week before the event: project templates, API examples and deployment scripts.
Meet your people.
Developers, designers and people who know the business team up for two days. After the event we launch the CodeLand community, with an AI workshop every month.
Three-day schedule
Nov 27Fri
- 8:30–12:00Check-in; all 3 tracks and every challenge revealed
- 12:00Kick-off — the 48-hour clock starts
- 14:30–17:00Opening forum (optional; skipping it won't affect your entry)
- 19:00–21:00Q&A with the challenge companies on site
Nov 28Sat
- All dayBuild day with guides on rotation; mid-point check at 12:00
- 13:00–18:00Land on CodeLand · ACG Island
Nov 29Sun
- 9:00Demo rehearsal
- 12:00Submission deadline
- 13:30–16:30Pitches: a 3-minute demo plus 2 minutes of Q&A per team
- 16:30–17:30Awards and closing; the CodeLand community launches
Challenges revealed on site — every team starts from the same line
All three tracks and every challenge are announced together on the morning of November 27, and kept confidential from everyone until then. Once you apply, you'll receive a technical prep guide telling you what to practise beforehand.
Deliverables
- A working prototype
- A 3-minute demo video
- Documentation
Four judging criteria
(does it run?)40%
Awards (the same for every track)
Saturday afternoon, ACG Island is right next door
Land on CodeLand · ACG Island is an AIGC fan fair held around the competition venue on Saturday, November 28, 13:00–18:00. Characters drawn by AI step off the screen, today.
AI characters come to life
Original AI characters inspired by Hainan, brought to life by cosplayers who perform, parade and pose for photos.
One-line character maker
Describe a character in one sentence, watch your original character get generated on the spot, and take it home as a printed badge.
Daodao photo spot
A giant standee of our mascot Daodao, plus pixel-art handicrafts.
Mini stage
Random dance, cosplay catwalk and AI voice-acting challenges.
Creators' market
Stalls from local illustrators, clubs and partners.
Contestant supply station
Contestants collect stamps with their badges and trade them for gifts.
Who can apply
- Aged 14 or over and interested in AI development — no restrictions on where you live, where you study or what you do.
- University and graduate students, engineers at companies, indie developers, designers, and product and operations people who know the business are all welcome.
- Apply on your own or as a team; the organizing committee helps solo applicants form teams based on their skill tags.
- Teams have 3–5 members, including at least 1 developer and 1 person with business or design skills.
- Under 18? See the Guide for Minors and Parents.
Key dates
- Mid-OctApplications open
- Nov 15Applications close
- Nov 18Shortlist notified
- Nov 20Teams finalized
- Nov 27Kick-off
How we review
Every application is read independently by at least 2 reviewers, who look at technical ability, past work and motivation. Location and financial circumstances are not considered.
FAQ
Does it cost anything?
There's no entry fee.
Are meals provided?
The organizing committee provides three meals a day plus late-night snacks, from Friday lunch through Sunday lunch.
What about accommodation and travel?
Those are up to you. There's a rest area on site, and you can stay at the venue overnight.
What should I bring?
Your laptop, charger and toiletries. If you're staying overnight, bring a light blanket or a jacket.
Who owns the work?
Copyright belongs to your team. The challenge company gets a 30-day priority negotiation period and a non-exclusive right to use the work for evaluation.
Will my information be shared with companies?
Only if you separately tick the consent box on the application form. Leaving it unticked won't affect your entry.
What about compute?
Every team gets a set compute allocation. Anything beyond that is up to you, or you can use your own accounts.
Can I use AI coding tools?
Open-source libraries, public models and AI coding tools are all allowed — just declare them when you submit. Your project must be built within the 48 hours.
Can minors take part?
Yes, from age 14. See the Guide for Minors and Parents.
Can I apply on my own?
Yes — we'll help you find a team.
Do I have to attend the forum?
No, it's optional.