What's included

One ticket. Full month access. No upsells.

Co-working space Full month, unrestricted internet (Google, GitHub, X all work)

Company visits Factory tours at DeepSeek, Unitree, and more

Daily programming Talks, workshops, demo days, hackathons

Networking 2,000 curated builders, 1:1 matching

Visa support Invitation letters, visa guidance

Soft landing Alipay setup, accommodation guidance, local SIM

The campus

Not a hotel ballroom. A purpose-built space designed for builders who need to get real work done — and run into the right people while doing it.

muShanghai 2026 venue floorplan — co-working spaces, tiered classroom, workshop area, media room, game room, dining areas, beverage bar, call booths

The muShanghai campus layout. See the full venue guide →

Cowork A & B Open zone for collaboration + silent zone for deep work

Tiered Classroom Talks, panels, and demo days with proper staging

Workshop Space Hands-on sessions, hackathons, build sprints

Call Booths & Meeting Rooms Private calls, investor meetings, team syncs

Media Room Podcasts, interviews, content creation

Town Hall & Social Lounge Main gathering space, casual seating, beverage bar

Game Room & Cinema Decompress, play, recharge

Outdoor Dining Areas Two terraces for meals and informal conversations

Four themed weeks

Each week features dedicated programming, company visits, and builders from that vertical. Attend any track — no need to specialize.

Week 1

Artificial Intelligence

May 11–15

Multi-agent systems, open-source AI, Chinese vs. Western model ecosystems. Meet builders shipping with DeepSeek, Qwen, MiniMax alongside Claude and GPT.

Week 2

Biotech & Longevity

May 18–22

Lab tours in Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park. Pipeline showcases from Chinese biotechs. Deal structures for cross-border investment. Led by Frank Ji.

Week 3

Robotics & Automation

May 25–29

Where code gets physical. Factory visits, hardware builders, the side of AI that walks, drives, and picks things up.

Week 4

Gaming & Entertainment

June 1–5

VR/MR experiences, game dev, media tech. China's creative industries from the inside.

Can't stay the full month? No problem. Join for a day, a week, or whatever fits. Tickets are flexible.

Companies within reach

The venue is near Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, in the heart of China's tech ecosystem.

Within 10 minutes

Alibaba TikTok / ByteDance Tencent NIO

Within 60 minutes

Huawei Flexiv NetEase WuXi AppTec Pharmaron

Within 2 hours

DeepSeek Unitree Robotics AstraZeneca China

Why people are coming

Builders from 40+ countries are joining. Here's what they wrote in their applications:

Most common

There's a hard ceiling to what you can understand from the outside

People who've been following China's tech scene remotely and hit a wall. They read the papers, track the repos, ship with Chinese models — but know there's a gap between following from afar and being embedded firsthand.

Founders

Find co-founders and real partnerships, not just contacts

Builders in active co-founder search mode. Looking for Chinese manufacturing partners, distribution channels, or technical co-pilots. They want to leave with LOIs, not LinkedIn connections.

Engineers

Understand how Chinese builders ship so fast

The velocity coming out of Chinese AI labs and hardware companies is staggering. People want to understand the culture, workflows, and decision-making behind it — not just the outputs.

Returning

The Mu community itself

Alumni from previous Mu events in Chiang Mai, Buenos Aires, and Accra who come back for the density: high-signal people, fast trust, real projects in days instead of months.

Builders from Argentina, USA, China, Singapore, India, South Korea, France, Malaysia, Thailand, Kenya and 30+ more countries.

Biotech Track: Frank Ji

Biotech Track Lead

Frank Ji (Yurang Ji)

Computational biology PhD (Shanghai University + US). Former programmer at Alibaba. Started his own biotech company 5 years ago, raised $3M first round, built AI tools for pharmaceutical data auditing. Now connecting US investors with Chinese biotech pipelines as a financing advisor.

Frank brings the Chinese biotech network that's almost impossible to access as an outsider: CDMOs, CROs, startups looking to license pipelines overseas. For the Biotech track, he's organizing lab tours in Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, pipeline showcases from Chinese biotechs, deal structure workshops (how to invest US/EU money in Chinese biotech), and 1:1 investor matching.

Who this track is for: Pharma BD teams scouting China pipelines, VCs and family offices with biotech focus, biotech founders looking for license-out deals, PhDs and scientists exploring cross-border careers.

Who's behind this

muShanghai is organized by The Mu, founded by Bohao Sun. The Mu has run pop-up cities across the globe — Argentina, Thailand, Africa, Europe, Middle East — with 300+ events and 2,500+ builders.

This is their biggest one yet. Partners include the Shanghai MinHang government and Alibaba. The vision: a permanent Global Gateway for international builders in China.

How I got involved

I heard about muShanghai through a friend, flew to Shanghai to meet Sun, and ended up helping organize the whole thing. Here's the full story.

Read my story

Where to stay

You arrange your own accommodation. The organizers have negotiated discounts at partner hotels near the venue. Prices fluctuate — book early, especially for May/June (exhibition season in Hongqiao).

Hotel lobby in the MinHang tech district, 2 minutes from the venue.

Partner hotels (discounted rates)

muShanghai participants get 15–25% off online platform prices. Two booking methods:

Self-booking: Go to the partner hotel with your event registration code. Rate = online price minus exclusive discount. Available mid-to-late April.
Group booking via muShanghai: Submit your requirements (name, passport, dates). The team reserves rooms and collects a deposit (~500 RMB). Pay the rest at check-in.

Recommended options

Recommended

Steigenberger Hotel (施柏阁酒店)

100m from venue · Hotel-style apartment

Daily cleaning, simple kitchen in room. 10,000–15,000 RMB/month (~$1,400–$2,100). Book 1 month in advance. View on Trip.com

Alternative

FUNLIVE International Apartment (方隅国际公寓)

Zhongjun Square · Serviced apartment

Full apartment with kitchen. Good for month-long stays.

Booking platforms

For foreigners: Trip.com, Booking.com, Agoda, Wellcee (expat-friendly), Flatio

Chinese platforms (cheaper, need Alipay): Ctrip, Fliggy, Tujia, Meituan BNB, Ziroom

Tip: Not all hotels in China accept foreign guests. Always confirm before booking. Trip.com and Booking.com filter for foreigner-friendly hotels automatically.

MinHang tech district near muShanghai venue

The neighborhood around the venue. Modern tech park with shops, cafes, and restaurants.

Not sure yet?

I'll send you what I learn on the ground in Shanghai — venue updates, who's coming, practical tips for China, and honest takes on whether this is worth your time. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

I'm Dominik. I help organize muShanghai and write about China at First Foreigner.

Frequently asked questions

Answers from the organizers and the muShanghai community.

How do I join?

Apply at the-mu.xyz. Once accepted, you'll get a payment link. Early bird: $119 (until April 10). Standard: $149 (until May 3). The application takes about 5 minutes — they're selecting for builders, not spectators.

Do I need a visa?

Most Europeans can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days. Americans, Brits, and Canadians can use the 240-hour (10-day) transit rule. For the full month, a regular tourist visa is recommended — the organizers can provide invitation letters. The visa process is straightforward: apply at your local Chinese embassy, typically takes 4–5 business days. See our full visa guide for details.

What about the internet?

The muShanghai hub has unrestricted internet — Google, GitHub, X, everything works. Outside the hub, the organizers will share recommendations for accessing your usual apps and messaging services.

How much will the full month cost?

Ticket: $119–$149. Monthly living costs in Shanghai: approximately $1,500–$3,000 depending on your lifestyle (accommodation, food, transport). Flights are separate. Shanghai is significantly cheaper than San Francisco, New York, or London.

Where is the venue?

The muShanghai hub is approximately 2 minutes from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, in the MinHang district. It's surrounded by tech company HQs — Alibaba, TikTok, Tencent, and NIO are all within 10 minutes. See the full venue guide with floorplan →

Do I have to stay the full month?

No. Drop in for a day, a week, or just the track that matters most to you. The ticket covers the full month — come and go as you like.

Is accommodation included?

No — see the accommodation section above for partner hotel discounts, apartment recommendations, and booking platforms.

Can I attend multiple tracks?

Yes. All tracks are open to everyone. No need to specialize in one — attend whichever sessions interest you.

Are there scholarships?

Yes, primarily for students. Contact the organizers directly.

Do I need to speak Mandarin?

No. The event is bilingual. Most programming is in English. Shanghai is one of the most international cities in China — you can navigate daily life without Mandarin, though knowing a few words helps.

What about payments in China?

China runs on mobile payments (Alipay and WeChat Pay). The organizers help you set up Alipay, which now works with international credit cards. Cash is rarely needed.

I'm an investor or company. Is there a premium track?

There's no official premium track. But I've been in China for a while and have built relationships with founders, manufacturers, and government contacts across Shenzhen and Shanghai. If you're an investor or company looking for specific introductions, reach out to me directly — happy to help connect you with the right people.

28 days in Shanghai with 2,000 builders in AI, biotech, robotics & gaming