Zhongguancun -- buildings and park-like landscape

Zhongguancun Street -- a road through the tech hub

Zhong Guan Cun (often "Zhongguancun") is a technology hub in Beijing. It is known as "the Silicon Valley of China". Zhongguancun (1). ... Zhongguancun (1). ... Zhongguancun (2). ... Zhongguancun (2). ... (help· info), a city in northern China, is the capital of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ... A view of downtown San Jose, the self-proclaimed Capital of Silicon Valley. Like many large cities, San Joses downtown is expansive and encompasses much more area than shown in this view. ...

It is geographically situated in the northwestern part of Beijing city, in a band between the northwestern 3rd Ring Road and the northwestern 4th Ring Road. 3rd Ring Road (Southeastern segment, taken in July of 2004) The 3rd Ring Road pinyin: San Huan Lu) is a 48-kilometer city ring road that encircles the centre of the city of Beijing. ... Beijings 4th Ring Road (April 2003 image) Eastern 4th Ring Road (August 2004 image) The 4th Ring Road (Hanyu Pinyin: Si Huan Lu) is an express route ring road in Beijing, China which runs around the city approximately 8 kilometres from the centre of the city. ...

Due to the proximity and participation of China's two most prestigious universities, Tsinghua University and Peking University, many analysts in the West are optimistic about Zhongguancun's future prospects. This is, in part, due to the similar role Stanford University played in the growth of the original Silicon Valley. Tsinghua University Tsinghua University (Simplified Chinese: 清华大学; Traditional Chinese: 清華大學; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ching-hua Ta-hsüeh) is one of the most prestigious and selective universities in China. ... Peking University 博学审问慎思明辨 Peking University or Beijing University (Simplified Chinese: 北京大学; Traditional Chinese: 北京大學; Hanyu Pinyin: ), colloquially known as Beida (北大, Běidà). Established in 1898, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in China. ... The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly known as Stanford University (or simply Stanford), is a privately-funded American university in Stanford, California. ... A view of downtown San Jose, the self-proclaimed Capital of Silicon Valley. Like many large cities, San Joses downtown is expansive and encompasses much more area than shown in this view. ...

Zhongguancun's was born in the early 1980s. The first person of Zhongguancun is Chen Chunxian, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), who came up with the idea for a Silicon Valley in China after he visited the U.S. as part of a government-sponsored trip. The location of the Chinese Academy of Sciences within Zhongguancun reinforced, and perhaps was in part responsible for the technological growth in this area. Chen Chunxian was the founder of the Silicon Valley of China, also known as Zhongguancun. ... The Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院), formerly known as Academia Sinica (not to be confused with the Academia Sinica currently headquartered in Taipei), is the national academy for the natural sciences of the Peoples Republic of China. ... A view of downtown San Jose, the self-proclaimed Capital of Silicon Valley. Like many large cities, San Joses downtown is expansive and encompasses much more area than shown in this view. ...

Throughout the 1980s and still today, Zhongguancun was known as "electronics avenue," because of its connections to information technology and the preponderance of stores along a central, crowded street.

Zhongguancun was officially recognized by the central government of China in 1988. It was given the wordy name "Beijing High-Technology Industry Development Experimental Zone."

The current designation Zhongguancun refers commonly to the original site. However, officially (as of 1999) Zhongguancun has become the "Zhongguancun Science & Technology Zone." It is a zone with seven parks, including Haidian Park, Fengtai Park, Changping Park, Electronics City (in Chaoyang), Yizhuang Park, Desheng Park, and Jianxiang Park.

The original Zhongguancun is now known as the Haidian Park of the Zhongguancun Zone. The area and environs, however, remain the same.

Hailong Market, Guigu Market, Taipingyang Market, Dinghao Market and Kemao Market are the five prominent IT and electronics markets. They are technology bazaars, famous for their "shops with a shop", where prices are easily but grudgingly bargained. Zhongguancun shops mainly deal in Windows-compatible hardware. Macintosh users, when they exist, visit AppleCentre and Apple Experience Centre. Microsoft Windows is a series of operating environments and operating systems created by Microsoft for use on personal computers and servers. ... The first Macintosh computer, introduced in 1984. ...

The most famous companies that grew up in Zhongguancun are Stone Group, Founder Group, and Lenovo Group. They were all founded in 1984-85. Stone was the first successful technology company to be operated by individuals outside the government in China. Founder is a technology company that spun-off Peking University. Lenovo Group spun-off from Chinese Academy of Sciences with Liu Chuanzhi, a hero of Zhongguancun and current Chairmain, eventually taking the helm. Both Founder and Lenovo Group maintain strong connections to their academic backers, who are significant shareholders. Lenovo Group Limited (联想集团有限公司), formerly known as Legend Group Ltd and New Technology Developer IncorporatedHKEx: 0992, is the largest personal computer manufacturer in the Peoples Republic of China, and as of 2004 is the third largest in the world (ninth before purchase of IBM). ... Peking University 博学审问慎思明辨 Peking University or Beijing University (Simplified Chinese: 北京大学; Traditional Chinese: 北京大學; Hanyu Pinyin: ), colloquially known as Beida (北大, BÄ›idà). Established in 1898, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in China. ... Lenovo Group Limited (联想集团有限公司), formerly known as Legend Group Ltd and New Technology Developer IncorporatedHKEx: 0992, is the largest personal computer manufacturer in the Peoples Republic of China, and as of 2004 is the third largest in the world (ninth before purchase of IBM). ... The Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院), formerly known as Academia Sinica (not to be confused with the Academia Sinica currently headquartered in Taipei), is the national academy for the natural sciences of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Lenovo Group Limited (联想集团有限公司), formerly known as Legend Group Ltd and New Technology Developer IncorporatedHKEx: 0992, is the largest personal computer manufacturer in the Peoples Republic of China, and as of 2004 is the third largest in the world (ninth before purchase of IBM). ...

Baidu Inc and Sina Inc are two companies known by China watchers in the West that were born and bred in Zhongguancun. They are both located in Lixiang Building.

According to the 2004 Beijing Statistical Yearbook, there are over 12,000 high-tech enterprises throughout Zhongguancun's seven parks, with 489,000 technicians employed.

In the Haidian Park, approximately 100,000 students graduate each year.

Despite the official designations, the name Zhongguancun continues to refer to northwest Beijing. The appellation is very well known among China's tech insiders, and throughout China in general.

Sources and References

Web Sites Obituary for Chen Chunxian Founder Group Stone Group Lenovo Group Zhongguancun Management Committee Zhongguancun Parks Travel Introduction to Zhongguancun Michael Rogers MSNBC Article on Zhongguancun Zhongguancun Blog Hilon Market Building (in Chinese) Map of Zhongguancun