Why the world is looking east: The growing global appeal of China innovation ecosystem

A man rides a quadruped robot at the venue of the 2026 Yuelu Conference, in Changsha, central China's Hunan province, Sept. 24. (Photo/Li Jian) One way to gauge a region's appeal to investors and entrepreneurs is to listen to those already embedded in its ecosystem. Take a European founder based in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province, who has called the city home for over a decade. He reports receiving daily inquiries from overseas startup leaders eager to visit, explore partnerships, or establish operations in China. The steady stream of visitors eager to explore Shenzhen and…