It’s great to live and work in China. This is far from an “oppressed” environment, and sometimes I actually feel even MORE free here, than in Europe. That’s due to the size of China – more people gives also more flexible tolerance for differences and different approaches. Some things, such as strongly publicly criticizing the central government, is basically out of question, however people’s freedoms have increased rapidly in China in the past 10 years.

Look not only at GDP, but also on other variables. Every year around 120 million Chinese visit abroad, voluntarily. And every year they voluntarily come back to China. Around 9 out of 10 taxi drivers, cleaning ladies – or indeed high level business personnel – seem to be relatively or very satisfied for the government in China. Everybody understands that you can’t govern a population of 1,4 billion the same way as you would in Denmark or Finland. However people’s opportunities, and wealth are constantly increasing, at least for the majority of the population. Also social side effects, such as corruption, social inequality, or air pollution are battled with.

Chinese people tend to work long days. 9-9-6 is the current theme. From nine-to-Nine, six days a week. Really. However that’s also being questioned lately, even by people such as Jack Ma and others.

In our office next to Hangzhou West Lake, in WeWork, we see a similar pattern. It’s 7.30 pm and many of the offices are full of people… Everyone balance their lives the way they best see. Some bring their dogs, or kids to the workplace. (And we sometimes play with them too…)

I feel it’s easier to get things done in China. In Finland after 5.30 pm I often feel, I wanna gat back home and enjoy my own time and leisure. But I don’t feel the same way in China.

China may offer for some a possible ‘4-hour-workweek’ environment, if you’re able to utilize Europe’s payment standards, combined with rising Chinese tech hubs, such as Hangzhou, which provide the sufficiently dynamic economic environment, with however a lot of benefits for a foreigner or a tech-friendly entrepreneur.

Places like Hangzhou or Chengdu are often better choices than Shanghai or Beijing. You get a better Blue Ocean effect here. We for instance got our space for 50% discount – for the whole year! And pay around 1/10 of the price we would in Hong Kong e.g. And for our projects there couldn’t be much better place than tech-savvy Hangzhou and its Alibaba boosted ecosystem.

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Sometimes I feel privileged to work here. Cycling around West Lake, discussing with energetic future creators. Like today. Alibaba Tech leaders team chiefs, government key officials, Finnish local China experts, University association heads, vice-mayors, young e-commerce entrepreneurs, AI experts… The cavalcade of just one day’s work today reminds me of how colorful life one can live in Hangzhou. If helping and serving others, creating bonds between your own and a foreign culture, which is becoming the hotspot of the world, interests, then there couldn’t be much better work places than right in here.

To do meaningful and giving work. That’s the essence of life. To balance your work and family. To constantly develop yourself. To overcome obstacles and challenges. To SERVE. That’s the essence of our job also in China. And sometimes I also feel that China wishes more and more turn their focus from themselves to the world. And not necessarily ruling over and controlling, but often also feeling a need to SERVE others and the world. The Confucian and Daoist values that have partially shaped the Chinese family landscape and its values, exist here. As China is more and more finding who she is, I believe it will return back to the position it has mostly had during its long history – from conflict and chaos to unity, purpose and service. Of course the Hong Kong circumstances are putting a lot of questions. But putting it into context, the majority of the Chinese and Asian sphere are developing relatively peacefully. I rarely feel chaotic or unsafe in China.

People need to develop and grow. For me since 2011 China has given an interesting platform and environment to grow myself. There’s a lot work to do here, however every day I feel that more and more positive things are happening here. Regardless of its challenges, China – and especially places like Hangzhou – is a great place to work and live.  I warmly recommend to take a leap of faith and come to China, to live, to study, to work – or to create a new life. In China everything is possible. No doubt about that. I’ve seen it myself and I’m sure you can too.