Digital nomads find a place to do business

As a gentle mountain breeze mixes with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and oven-baked bread, it is not hard to see why many digital nomads have chosen to live and work in Renli village, Ziyang city, Southwest China's Sichuan province.

"The village, just a half-hour drive from downtown, offers a bucolic retreat for us," says Ke Yu, one of the founders of the digital nomad community in Renli. "Here, we escape the pollution, traffic and crowds of the urban sprawl."

In late 2023, while searching for a remote working location, Ke stumbled upon a photo online of the observation deck atop the village.

"Viewed from above, its spiral design resembles a lollipop. It is a perfect blend of rural charm and modern architecture," she says.

Near the observation deck, three unused buildings were also ripe for re-purposing. "With minimal modifications, they could be offices, accommodations, dining rooms, even entertainment spaces for the community," she adds.

"Digital nomads" are generally individuals who, thanks to advances in communication infrastructure, do not rely on traditional office settings. They can work and generate income exclusively through the internet. The premise is simple — "working on the go" while traveling.

Born in 2000, Ke is familiar with the trend. While studying in the United States, she had many friends who embraced remote work. Upon returning to China, she also learned about digital nomad communities in places including Anji in East China's Zhejiang province and Dali in Southwest China's Yunnan province.

A shared aspiration to escape the fast-paced and high-pressure life of big cities to work in scenic and cost-effective locations unites many digital nomads. But, besides this, what unique experiences can they offer? Ke had an idea.

Ke and her partners invited artists from around the world to create 10 interconnected art installations, providing visitors with a truly distinctive artistic journey.

Within the 2,000-square-meter shared office space in the community, facilities like three-dimensional printers, livestreaming rooms and studio lights are provided to meet the specific needs of the remote workers who typically work in creative design, programming and media.

"We aim to blend the natural countryside with an urban office vibe," Ke says.

Most digital nomads who come to the community stay for short periods, ranging from a few days to several weeks. Choo Ho-jin from South Korea is one of its first residents.

Choo has lived in China for a decade. He used to own several coffee shops in Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan, and is looking to establish a coffee factory in the community.

In addition to coffee bean production and storage, the space will offer shared facilities for coffee curation, markets and experiential courses.

"Here, brainstorming and resource connections can happen anytime," Choo says. During his spare time, he enjoys posting event notifications and chatting with other residents about coffee.

Zhou Tao, a professor at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China in Chengdu, also serves as a representative for the design and operation of the community.

He says digital nomads are a natural product of the flourishing digital economy and represent a new force in the era of mobile internet. "They will also bring a youthful vitality to the rural revitalization of Ziyang, and these 'new villagers' will undoubtedly become an important force in the co-building process," says Zhou.