Chengdu: This laid-back city is learning how to keep up with the pace of tech

There’s the old Chinese idiom “Don’t enter Sichuan when you are still young.” The saying reflects the concern that the free and easy local lifestyle will effortlessly undo a youth’s energy and spirit. Today, however, in the age of fierce competition and the notion that time is money, Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan, stands out as a cozy hub for some tech companies, especially game developers, which don’t care for the stress of Beijing or Shanghai.

At noon, staff at Startupbootcamp’s (SBC) Chengdu office were taking naps in unoccupied conference rooms. They are taking real naps—lying across chairs with thin blankets covering them. Erik Ackner, Program Director at SBC, said he enjoyed the relaxing city life and the mindset locals have—people choose to work on what makes them happy.

“People here are proud of the local food and the culture,” Ackner said.

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