We witnessed the collision and drift of this city and the city heading for a better place.
Wensan Road is known as "Zhongguancun in Hangzhou", and many IT enterprises hatched and grown here drift to all parts of the city, making "Paradise Silicon Valley" worthy of the name.
"West, between Wen Er Road and Wensan Road, No.99 Huaxing Road, Venture Building ..."
"Alibaba, right? Why don't you bother telling me the address? Just say Alibaba directly! "
No sooner had I finished saying where I was going than I was quickly stopped by the taxi driver. According to him, basically all taxi drivers in Hangzhou know where Alibaba is, so you don't have to say so much.
Alibaba is like a myth in Hangzhou. This world-renowned B2B e-commerce brand operates an online trade market covering 240 countries and regions around the world, with a customer base of over 6 million. Some authoritative international media rated it as "the most popular B2B website". Ma Yun's mission to Alibaba is: "Let there be no difficult business in the world".
Sure enough, with Alibaba, the taxi business in Hangzhou is not difficult to do. In addition to taxis, it is not difficult to do business in the office buildings near Huaxing Road-the office buildings such as Venture Building, Huaxing Times Square, Huaxing Science and Technology Building, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Building and West Lake International Science and Technology Building are full of Alibaba people. In the past ten years, Alibaba has developed rapidly and its employees have already exceeded 10,000. Some people joked that such enterprises are basically "labor-intensive" enterprises. Outside the office building, it is not difficult to do the rental business around Alibaba-Jialuyuan, Tianyuan Garden, Kangxinyuan and other communities never lack tenants. Most of the people who come here to rent houses are young people who are ambitious and full of expectations for the future. Besides, restaurants, entertainment and Cyberport around Huaxing Road are not difficult businesses. An Alibaba here has really opened the door to wealth for many people.
Ten years, west of Hangzhou, around Huaxing Road, this is Alibaba's "West Lake Era".
Alibaba is just a representative of the high-tech industrial cluster in the west of Hangzhou. Most of the famous IT software companies and Internet companies in Hangzhou, from the initial UT Starcom to Hang Seng, Xinyada, Shilanwei, Netsun Technology and Panshi Information, started their businesses in the west of the city. There are universities, talents, markets, financial services institutions and office buildings suitable for start-ups. The West Lake, which is close at hand, is more creative and passionate, and has always been called a paradise for entrepreneurship. From the late 1990s to the present, a large number of IT enterprises have sprung up here, laying the foundation for the IT industry in Hangzhou and even Zhejiang.
Why is the west of the city developing so fast?
Yu, general manager of Investment Consulting Co., Ltd. believes that in the past few years, the population growth and industrial agglomeration in western Hangzhou have been very fast, and the most important reason is the development of high population density industries. For example, software industry, design industry, animation industry, and some more advanced service industries, such as accounting, law, evaluation, consulting and so on. Such enterprises are generally located in office buildings with high population density. It is these people who accumulate rapidly and live in the west of the city, which makes the property prices in the west soar.
Today, the west of the city is saturated, and everything seems too fast and crowded. At first, the high-tech industry attracted the urban population to migrate to the west of the city by pendulum, and then promoted the residential areas in the west of the city. This is an interactive process. Throughout Hangzhou, a beautiful residential area was first built in the west of the city. Entrepreneurs will be attracted by the quality houses here, buy houses there and slowly take root here. The concentration of entrepreneurship will form a new attraction and let more high-tech industries come here. As a result, the west of the city was pushed up by entrepreneurs until the peak. The increasingly congested traffic in the west of the city can be used as an example of the rapid development of this prosperous land.
When the water is full, it overflows, and mature enterprises begin to look for bigger places and start to flow out. Outflow is the first choice, and Binjiang leads. During the rush hour every day, traffic can be seen rolling in Lingxi Tunnel in the west of the city. From the first Qianjiang Bridge to Gudun Road, the traffic jam happened as early as downtown. This is also obvious evidence of frequent contact between the west of the city and the mouth of the river.
Ten years later, Alibaba, which has long been famous in the world, will also change from the "West Lake era" to the "Qianjiang era".
On August 7th, 2009- 17, all over 6,000 employees of Alibaba B2B Company moved to Alibaba (China) base at the intersection of Binxing Road and Zhonghe Viaduct in Binjiang. This is an "electric mall" covering an area of 59,000 square meters and can accommodate 10000 people at the same time. Shape design is like an open giant net. "Let there be no difficult business in the world" means "snare all the business in the world".
The new building is not very high, only six stories at the highest, but it is huge, and the decoration is simple and direct, just like an industrial maze with paths crossing. This is in line with the theory of Jack Ma, the head of Alibaba-"Any company that you say I want to build the tallest building in the local area is unlucky. According to my statistics, the building of this enterprise is the tallest, and he must be unlucky. New york's "9. 1 1 incident" is a typical case ... It turns out that most of our branches are located in residential units. Not to mention Fuzhou, that is, new york, Tokyo, where we can afford to rent the most expensive office building, but we don't. Why? We want all employees to know that in the future, we will expand our business together and move the branch office from a small unit to the most advanced local office building! "
In this Ali culture, it is not surprising that most employees simply don't know where the address of the new company is. Qing Yu works in the Credit Finance Department of Alibaba B2B Company. She doesn't know most of the details about moving. All known information comes from the company intranet. She "heard" that a catering supplier, a company in Beijing and Shanghai, has been introduced to the new site, which specializes in providing professional services for 500 powerful enterprises. Delicious and cheap; She "heard" that there might be a shuttle bus from several locations in the city to the new location of Binjiang. She "heard" that some colleagues bought a house in Binjiang early, and some colleagues partnered to find an intermediary to rent a house in Binjiang; She heard that the company's new office was beautiful, but she never thought of going to have a look in advance. Anyway, she will go straight to work then.
In Qing Yu's words, everyone who enters Alibaba is like being beaten with chicken blood. All they want is work. Things outside of work and things in the company don't need to be considered too much. Alibaba's corporate culture has eight words: embrace change and take the initiative to adapt.
Jade Qing lives in Peninsula Red, gets married and has children. At that time, it was impossible to move to Binjiang like a young colleague. The way she embraces change is to learn to drive and buy a car, and prepare to drive across the river to work. Will the subway go to the new address of the company in the future? She said she didn't know. In Alibaba, everything just needs to be in tune with the company.
Alibaba's relocation is not a trivial matter. In February this year, the government of Binjiang District made preparations for food, housing and school, and prepared a "Riverside Life Collection" for Alibaba. This is an electronic map specially made for Alibaba in Binjiang District. In the surrounding area centered on Alibaba (China) base, all supermarkets, restaurants, entertainment and other facilities are clearly marked.
Regarding housing, according to preliminary calculations, nearly 3,000 Alibaba employees need to rent houses in Binjiang. The second logistics company in Binjiang District provides single apartments with a monthly price of more than 2,500 yuan, as well as major commercial properties around it, as well as resettlement houses for rural residents to meet the requirements of young people who have just joined the job. Regarding the enrollment of children of Alibaba employees, Binjiang District has also made arrangements: all primary and secondary schools and kindergartens will accept it.
Alibaba's soldiers and horses have not moved, and now they have played a leading role in the surrounding areas of Binjiang-since June, the rental of houses near Binxing Road has been very prosperous. The previous record was to rent 20 houses a month. But in June, 20 sets can only be at the bottom, with a maximum of more than 40 sets. The price is also 40%-50% higher than before. A single apartment in Du Jing, Nan 'an, 60 square meters, finely decorated, 1500 yuan/month, and now the price is between 2000-2200 yuan. Alibaba's imminent arrival has directly led to the rise in rental prices. Huarong Scenic Butterfly Garden, which opened on June 20th, is located in Baima Lake section of Binjiang. When promoting the real estate, the sales staff repeatedly used Alibaba's upcoming residence as a selling point to encourage investors to buy the house in Butterfly Garden and rent or sell it to Alibaba in the future. "Those little white-collar workers" are sure to make money.
What impact will Alibaba's relocation have on the city?
Professor Xu Qingming from the Research Center for Regional and Urban Development of Zhejiang University said in an interview with the media that the impact of Alibaba's large-scale transfer on Hangzhou must be multifaceted-
"The first is the consumption activities of enterprises. The transfer will inevitably bring about the consumption of the production chain in the e-commerce industry. Next, companies that have business relations with Alibaba are likely to strengthen their ties with Binjiang. Followed by personal consumption activities. The food, clothing, housing and transportation of more than 6,000 employees are a huge consumer group no matter where they are. With consumer demand, supply will naturally arise. The third point is reflected in the production activities of enterprises. Related logistics, transportation and facilities construction will be adjusted and rearranged. In addition, when Alibaba leaves the western sector, other enterprises will have the opportunity to enter the western market and cultivate new industries. Judging from the direction of Hangzhou's future urban development, the Chengxi plate can inject new vitality, and the Binjiang plate can also take advantage of the situation to accelerate development. "
As Hangzhou moves from the "West Lake era" to the "Qiantang River era", more and more enterprises have taken the step of "cross-river development" like Alibaba. "Early UT Starcom, Dongfang Communication, and later Hang Seng Electronics, Xinyada, 3D Communication, Honghua Digital. At present, Netease (Hangzhou) R&D Center is under construction, just next to Alibaba. " The relevant person in charge of the High-tech Zone (Binjiang) said, "The climax of a large number of employees crossing the river has just begun."
Lin Hao: Life is simpler.
Lin Hao, a young man from Shandong who came to Hangzhou last August, has been very active in showing us around Alibaba's headquarters. He has endless words and rich body language. He said that he has been in Alibaba for almost a year, and the passionate atmosphere in the company always excites him.
A year ago, Lin Hao was a journalism major at Qingdao University. Because of his admiration for Ma Yun and his interest in the IT industry, he was recommended by his classmates and brother to practice in Alibaba under the tradition of "recommending talents and not avoiding relatives". Because of his good performance, he stayed successfully after graduation.
"In Ali, you have no idea whether you have worked here for 1 year or 5 years. I am strict with my work, result-oriented and the working environment is very harmonious. Everyone often goes out to relax. I have never felt that work is a kind of pressure! " Speaking of the company, Lin Hao said more. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the founding of Alibaba, and he began to run around for it.
He remembers that on the first day of his interview, the department director posted a post on the company intranet to help him find a place to live. Everyone responded, and the house was soon settled. That's an apartment shared with colleagues in the company. There are three people living in three bedrooms and one living room, and each person rents 800 yuan. Of course, the most important thing is that the residence is close to the company-it only takes 5 minutes to walk.
Lin Hao said that many colleagues in the company choose to share the rent and go to work together, which is also convenient in the ditch. Everyone has a good relationship, and living together can save a lot of things and be happy.
"Get up in the morning, wash up, we have breakfast together, and then go to the company. Every day, there is a dynamic start, which makes everyone work surprisingly well after arriving at the company. " Perhaps it is such a young and simple heart. Although the company's relocation is imminent, most employees of the company have never been to Binjiang to explore the camp. In Lin Hao's view, as long as you work hard, the company will help you arrange other things, don't worry.
With us, Lin Hao went to Ali's new home in Binjiang for the first time. After running a lap, he kept exclaiming that it was great. The spacious office environment is much better than here in the west of the city. However, after searching for a long time, Lin Hao didn't see the community that rented a house through an intermediary a few days ago-South Bank Du Jing. He rented a small apartment with one room and one living room there, with a monthly rent of 1500 yuan. Along the way, he has been thinking about how to go to work in the future-"either, you can come to work by bike or something." Anyway, it is said that there is a shower room in the company. "
"Now look around, there is no supporting facilities, but at that time, our 6,000 people will definitely be brought up by other industries. Life is certainly simpler, but it doesn't matter. There is nothing wrong with returning to simplicity in your spare time. " On the way back to downtown, he said this.
Everything is going on.
It's not the raptors crossing the river.
It seems that Alibaba will float across the river next month-from Huaxing Road in the west of the city to Binxing Road in the riverside, with a total of 6,000 people, and the whole B2B company will move here. On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the founding of Alibaba, it must be a landmark event to make such a "big move".
Riverside location is the new convergence direction of high-tech industries in Hangzhou. "Early UT Starcom, Dongfang Communication, and later Hang Seng Electronics, Xinyada, 3D Communication, Honghua Digital. Now, Netease (Hangzhou) R&D Center is also under construction, just next to Alibaba. " The relevant person in charge of the High-tech Zone (Binjiang) said that "the climax of a large number of high-tech enterprises crossing the river has just begun".
It's just the beginning. The relocation of 6,000 Ali people will bring a series of related economic impacts-the real estate price and rental price of the relocation destination will rise instantly, and more people are paying attention to the rigid consumption demand brought by these 6,000 people. Lin Hao, who has just worked in Alibaba for one year, originally shared a house with his colleagues in the west of the city and paid 800 yuan money for rent every month. After moving to Binjiang, he rented a small apartment 1500 yuan every month. This alone, he spent 700 yuan more in Binjiang. It is such a small amount of consumption stimulus that Binjiang is destined to become a prosperous place to attract gold, just like the calm west of the city a few years ago.
From the observation of Alibaba's big moves, you will find that Hangzhou, which has always been quiet and beautiful, is becoming a dynamic city with constantly drifting blocks because of economic factors.
China Sijiqing Clothing Trading Center was built in Chengdong and Jiubao. This is a key project of the government, and it is also the largest clothing distribution center integrating trading and warehousing in East China. This place is adjacent to Hangzhou Economic Development Zone and Qianjiang Eighth Bridge in the east. It is connected to Desheng Road, Hangzhou Urban Expressway, Hangzhou Bus Terminal and Jiubao Station of Metro 1 Line in the south; West to Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, expressway, Zhejiang University Science Park; It is adjacent to Hangzhou Ring Road in the north. The popularity here is not prosperous, but most businesses are optimistic about the future development.
In Xiasha, Xiaoheshan and Binjiang, many universities are starting a new "city-building" movement. Hangzhou Dianzi University, Zhejiang Gongshang University and China Ji Liang University moved to Xiasha University Town, Zhejiang Art College, Zhejiang Police College and Zhejiang Institute of Architecture moved to Binjiang Higher Education Park, and Zhejiang University of Technology and Zhejiang Institute of Science and Technology moved to Xiaoheshan. Recently, Hangzhou Normal University, located on Wen Yi Road, will also build a new campus in front of Yuhang Factory. Cang Qian University Town will be completed before 20 14.
North of the city, the factory is "changing cages for birds". There are 46 subsidiaries of Hangzhou Industrial Assets Management and Investment Group that need to move out of the urban area, and nearly 8,000 mu of urban land will be vacated. It is estimated that by 20 10, the group will invest 20 billion yuan for enterprise relocation. However, with the improvement of production capacity and the optimization of structure after relocation, the Group can increase its sales income by 27 billion yuan.
In the city, with the rise of Huanglong Bar District, the aura of Nanshan Road Bar Street has long faded. Now bars in Hangzhou are blooming everywhere, and several famous bars are gathered in Huanglong, Shuguang Road and Chengxi, which is a natural change of urban consumption and entertainment life.
Everything is changing, and this is just the beginning. This internal motivation stems from the rapid development and re-planning of Hangzhou. The city grew up day by day, and new clothes began to rise. The old clothes must have shrunk a long time ago. Put on new ones.