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I've been contemplating for a while, how much does it make sense to move to Shenzhen for a while to understand how production works. How important is it to spea

I've been contemplating for a while, how much does it make sense to move to Shenzhen for a while to understand how production works. How important is it to speak Mandarin ? Are there companies hiring, where I could get a glimpse into that? Of course like many others I'm spoiled by SF salaries, however I've noticed that there are huge numbers of valley hardware startups and crowfundings and most of them fail when it comes to actual production. Ps. I'll probably get this when I'm home, but am curious if any of these questions are answered there.

kqr2 9y ago
Maybe you can try attending a "hacker" tour. Although Dangerous Prototypes doesn't seem to have a current offering, you might be able to find something similar: http://dangerousprototypes.com/subscribe/hackercampshenzhen/ http://dangerousprototypes.com/subscribe/hackercampshenzhen/ Noisebridge seems to have something in October although less focused on Shenzhen: https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/NoisebridgeChinaTrip7 https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/NoisebridgeChinaTrip7
flachsechs 9y ago
i'm guessing it's more useful to speak cantonese in shenzhen. if you don't speak either, hire a translator.
- TACIXAT 9y ago
  Actually, Mandarin, at least according to this: https://www.quora.com/Do-people-in-Guangzhou-Shenzhen-and-Hong-Kong-speak-the-same-language https://www.quora.com/Do-people-in-Guangzhou-Shenzhen-and-Ho...
- Taniwha 9y ago
  No, Mandarin - Shenzhen is a new city, people have come from all over China - some people do speak Cantonese, but almost everyone speaks Mandarin
coupdejarnac 9y ago
Take a class in Chinese to get the basics. You won't be able to have much of a conversation at such a basic level, but it will make life much easier around China if you can be self sufficient. I was just in Shenzhen two weeks ago, and though I can speak basic Mandarin and read some Chinese, I was thrown a curve at the train station. Almost no English at the train station, which was also true in Wuhan and a few other places. That's a big deal, because taking high speed rail is much more pleasant than flying.

kqr2 9y ago

Maybe you can try attending a "hacker" tour. Although Dangerous Prototypes doesn't seem to have a current offering, you might be able to find something similar: http://dangerousprototypes.com/subscribe/hackercampshenzhen/ http://dangerousprototypes.com/subscribe/hackercampshenzhen/ Noisebridge seems to have something in October although less focused on Shenzhen: https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/NoisebridgeChinaTrip7 https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/NoisebridgeChinaTrip7

flachsechs 9y ago

i'm guessing it's more useful to speak cantonese in shenzhen. if you don't speak either, hire a translator.

TACIXAT 9y ago
Actually, Mandarin, at least according to this: https://www.quora.com/Do-people-in-Guangzhou-Shenzhen-and-Hong-Kong-speak-the-same-language https://www.quora.com/Do-people-in-Guangzhou-Shenzhen-and-Ho...
Taniwha 9y ago
No, Mandarin - Shenzhen is a new city, people have come from all over China - some people do speak Cantonese, but almost everyone speaks Mandarin

coupdejarnac 9y ago

Take a class in Chinese to get the basics. You won't be able to have much of a conversation at such a basic level, but it will make life much easier around China if you can be self sufficient. I was just in Shenzhen two weeks ago, and though I can speak basic Mandarin and read some Chinese, I was thrown a curve at the train station. Almost no English at the train station, which was also true in Wuhan and a few other places. That's a big deal, because taking high speed rail is much more pleasant than flying.