Why I Left Hangzhou for Shaoxing, and Then Shanghai

Hangzhou: The Engine Room

Hangzhou is intense. It's the engine room of China's internet economy. For over a decade, I thrived on that energy. The late nights, the constant deployments, the "996" culture unspoken but felt.

It gave me my skills. It sharpened my technical teeth. But it also exhausted me. I realized that to build something truly creative, I needed headspace, not just headcount.

Shaoxing: Comparison & Reflection

So I moved to Shaoxing. A beautiful, historic water town not far from Hangzhou. Life slowed down. I had time to think. I coded for fun again.

In Shaoxing, I architected the core of what would become the "YiHang Code" library. I stripped away the unnecessary complexity I had learned in big tech. I focused on "Zero Cost" because, as an solo founder, every dollar counts.

Shanghai: The Launchpad

But isolation can only take you so far. Once the product was ready, I needed a market. I needed to be where the business happens.

Shanghai offers a different kind of energy. It's not just about code; it's about business, international connection, and diverse ideas. I moved my startup base here to scale.

Now, I run my independent venture from Shanghai, combining the technical depth from Hangzhou, the thoughtful simplicity from Shaoxing, and the business acumen of Shanghai.