When I arrived in Taiwan for the first time last week, my first impression was that it felt just like Japan. Taipei station feels just like Tokyo station. Ximen is like Shinjuku/Shibuya. Even the cute, mountainous town on the outskirt of Taipei - Jiufen - reminds one of Kamakura, the cute, mountainous town on the outskirt … Continue reading Taipei Tasting Notes
China’s Watching Silicon Valley. Does Silicon Valley Watch China?
Every day, I meet entrepreneurs across the US and China. I often ask them about their competitors overseas. When I’m in China, I notice that Chinese founders usually have comprehensive knowledge about their US competitors, listing off minute product features and the latest numbers on their size and traction. On the other hand, when I … Continue reading China’s Watching Silicon Valley. Does Silicon Valley Watch China?
How to Keep Up with What’s Happening in China
This is a list of resources that I have found helpful for staying in touch with what's happening in China (and here's why I stay in touch with China), with a focus on tech. I should admit that I have been/am currently affiliated with many of the outlets mentioned below. English-language resources 996 Podcast A … Continue reading How to Keep Up with What’s Happening in China
A Love Letter to Arsicault Bakery
If you know me, you know that I’m a croissant snob. I had originally conceived this blog post as a comprehensive review of “The Croissants of San Francisco.” But after going around tasting all the croissants of San Francisco, the verdict for the best croissant became so clear that I decided to devote my entire … Continue reading A Love Letter to Arsicault Bakery
“Father of WeChat” Lays Out 2018 Product Roadmap
By Zara Zhang and Hans Tung What is the most watched speech in the Chinese tech community? It is WeChat's founder Allen Zhang's keynote address at the WeChat Open Class PRO (WeChat's equivalent of Apple's WWDC or Google I/O) held in Guangzhou each January. Zhang is the mastermind behind WeChat, the super app with 980 million … Continue reading “Father of WeChat” Lays Out 2018 Product Roadmap
Lessons Learned from Organizing Harvard China Forum
At Harvard, I co-led the organization of Harvard China Forum, the largest student-run China conference in North America that attracts 1,200 attendees and features over 100 speakers each year. The speaker list is a who's who of prominent figures in the US-China cross-border world. It was not easy to run a large event as students … Continue reading Lessons Learned from Organizing Harvard China Forum
Has Tech Made China Less Friendly to Foreigners?
For every app that I use, there is a China equivalent that I put into a category on my phone called “China.” This screenshot reminds me of how self-contained China’s tech ecosystem has become. Chinese people use Chinese apps. Non-Chinese people use non-Chinese apps. Those who travel back and forth, like me, usually have … Continue reading Has Tech Made China Less Friendly to Foreigners?
Resources for those interested in VC
Recently, I have had at least a dozen friends ask me if I have any tips for those interested in the venture capital industry. I'm obviously still new to the field and trying to learn more myself, but here are some resources that I have found helpful. This is not meant to be an authoritative, … Continue reading Resources for those interested in VC
Why Sending WeChat Voice Messages is a Status Symbol
WeChat has a voice message function that allows you to press a button and record your message. For the uninitiated, this is just another way of sending messages that’s interchangeable with text messages. However, sending a voice message on WeChat is considered obnoxious in the Chinese professional world, and usually only tolerated if it is … Continue reading Why Sending WeChat Voice Messages is a Status Symbol
Why I Stay in Touch with China
The ability to understand, explain, and interpret China to a non-Chinese audience will be one of the most prized skills in the decades to come.
Zara Zhang 