Doing Business in Hangzhou for 5 Days
Hey, Eddie here! While I've lived in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, Hangzhou holds a very special place in my heart—I make it a point to visit every single year, often spending quiet moments at Lingyin Temple or Faxi Temple. But beyond its stunning West Lake and serene temples, Hangzhou is China's "Silicon Valley of the East."
This program is crafted for international business leaders to understand the unique DNA of Hangzhou's tech ecosystem. Following our Weekly Rhythm, this 5-day journey explores the powerful synergy between e-commerce giants, top-tier academic institutions, and a relentless startup culture that is currently birthing China's next wave of tech unicorns.
2. Hangzhou: The Alibaba Ecosystem & The "Stanford of the East"
The "Six Little Dragons" and the Alumni Network
Hangzhou's business landscape is famously dominated by Alibaba, but the story doesn't end there. Alibaba has created a massive ripple effect, spawning a rich ecosystem where former employees leverage their deep industry insights and venture capital to launch their own startups. Furthermore, Zhejiang University (ZJU)—often called the "Stanford of the East"—is a powerhouse of entrepreneurial talent. From Colin Huang (founder of Pinduoduo) to Liang Wenfeng (founder of the AI sensation DeepSeek), ZJU alumni are shaping the future of global tech. This course unpacks how this tight-knit community of the "Alibaba Mafia" and ZJU graduates fuels Hangzhou's innovation, including the rise of the city's AI and robotics startups, known as the "Six Little Dragons."
• The E-commerce Empire: A comprehensive tour of the Alibaba Xixi Campus. We'll explore the history of China's digital economy, cloud computing, and how Alibaba's infrastructure supports millions of merchants.
• The "Stanford of the East": A visit to the Zhejiang University area to understand the academic-to-entrepreneur pipeline. We'll discuss the success stories of alumni like DeepSeek's Liang Wenfeng and Pinduoduo's Colin Huang.
• The "Alibaba Mafia" Ecosystem: A workshop on how former Alibaba executives build new ventures, creating a self-sustaining cycle of innovation and venture capital in Hangzhou.
• The Next Generation (The Six Little Dragons): Insights into Hangzhou's booming AI, robotics, and gaming startups (like Game Science, creators of Black Myth: Wukong), showcasing the city's pivot from e-commerce to deep tech.
Weekly Itinerary
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Day
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Focus
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Experience
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Mon
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Welcome & Kick-off
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Arrival in Hangzhou; Welcome dinner near West Lake; Eddie's introduction to Hangzhou's dual identity: ancient serenity and hyper-modern tech.
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Tue
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The Digital Empire
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Immersive tour of the Alibaba Campus; Workshop on the evolution of e-commerce, digital payments (Alipay), and cloud infrastructure.
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Wed
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The Academic Engine
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Visit to the Zhejiang University startup hub; Discussion on the "ZJU Alumni Network" and case studies on DeepSeek and Pinduoduo.
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Thu
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The Startup Ecosystem
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Meetings with startups founded by Alibaba alumni; Deep dive into the "Six Little Dragons" of Hangzhou's AI and robotics scene.
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Fri
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Wrap-up & Outlook
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Course summary and sharing of insights; A mindful morning walk near Lingyin Temple (Eddie's highly recommended tradition!); Certificate presentation and farewell lunch.
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