Dispatches from Asia's Silicon Valley

China is building the future.
The West is reading about it.

First-hand insights from Shenzhen for founders, investors, and operators who want to understand what's actually happening — not what the headlines say.

47%
of global EVs made in China
70%
of drones are Chinese
48h
prototype turnaround
90s
battery swap time
DD
Your Guide

Dr. Dominik Dotzauer

German physician turned entrepreneur, currently based in Shenzhen. After years of building businesses in Europe, I moved to China to see what Western media isn't showing: a tech ecosystem moving faster than anywhere else on Earth.

I document what I see — the factories, the founders, the friction, and the opportunities — for Western builders who want the real picture.

✓ Based in Shenzhen, China
✓ Factory tours with BYD, DJI, and more
✓ Direct access to founder networks

What the headlines get wrong

The myth
"Made in China means cheap copies"
The reality
BYD passed Tesla. DJI owns 70% of drones. Huawei leads 5G.
The myth
"China's economy is collapsing"
The reality
5% GDP growth. New skyscraper every 3 days. 814 billionaires.
The myth
"You can't do business there as a foreigner"
The reality
30-day visa-free just opened. WeChat Pay works. Factories want Western clients.

Latest Insights

Deep dives into China's tech ecosystem — what's working, what's broken, and what it means for Western builders.

🚗
Manufacturing

I Watched a Car Battery Get Swapped in 90 Seconds

In Germany, charging an EV takes 30 minutes. In Shenzhen, BYD built a system that swaps the entire battery in 90 seconds. Here's how it works and why Western automakers should be worried.

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📱
Fintech

Why Chinese Apps Make Western Fintech Look Like Toys

Alipay shows me spending analytics, health records, and tax refunds — all in one app. Meanwhile, my German bank sends paper statements. The super-app reality that Western fintech is decades away from.

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🏭
Supply Chain

The Hidden Story of Trip.com: From Beijing Startup to Booking.com Killer

Most Westerners don't know that Trip.com is Chinese — founded in 1999 in Beijing, survived SARS, and now processes more hotel bookings than Booking.com. The origin story you've never heard.

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Comparison

Cost of Living: China vs Thailand (Real Numbers)

Everyone assumes Thailand is cheaper. After 3 months in both countries, I ran the numbers. The results surprised me — especially when you factor in quality and what you actually get.

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🤖
Tech

I Tried to Talk to a Robot in English. It Refused.

Elon Musk says there'll be more robots than people in 5 years. They're all coming from China. I met one in a Shenzhen mall — and it only wanted to speak Mandarin.

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🍽
Culture

I Ordered Lamb. I Got Sheep Kidneys.

My first night in Shanghai at 2am, hungry and jet-lagged. The translation app failed me. What I learned about Chinese food culture, and why they think we're the weird ones for eating chicken breast.

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