‘Now is our time’: Despite tariffs, China’s Silicon Valley is ready to make its mark on the world

The city of Hangzhou is one of the most historic and beautiful in China. But this ancient place now has the most modern of reputations, as China’s ‘Silicon Valley’. A vibrant hub for entrepreneurs and high-tech start-ups, Hangzhou is home to headline-grabbing success stories like Alibaba and breakthrough AI firm, DeepSeek. In the context of escalating competition with America, the world is increasingly paying attention. Those who are part of the tech scene here brim with enthusiasm. Image: Hangzhou, in Zhejiang province, has been labelled ‘China’s Silicon Valley’ Over coffee, in an ultra-modern city complex, they describe how exciting this…