The Beijing tech scene
I’ve just found Tim O’Reilly’s report from the Beijing Foo Camp, posted a week ago. It chimes with everything I feel about Beijing after my time there, and in particular, this:
There are (reportedly) very large differences between the tech cultures in Shanghai and Beijing. Shanghai is very entrepreneurial, with money as a common language. Beijing is more complex, richer by most opinions, but more difficult. We might have felt more at home in Shanghai, but because of the complex interactions between government, academic institutions (which are centered in Beijing), the artistic revival here, and business, many felt that the future is here in Beijing. Of course, they also said that the rivalry between the two cities is like the rivalry between LA and New York.
I totally agree - and it’s one of the reasons why I keep touting Beijing as one of the most interesting places in the world to be right now - and why I’m going back next year 
The whole of Tim’s post is worth reading for his thoughts on Beijing, China, and the tech/arts scene.
Monday, November 19th, 2007
