Tailored experiences such as ‘office salon’ in Beijing help WeWork China grow – the collaboration, with online cultural platform Douban, is one of several in the works

WeWork China opened a social and events space that takes up half of one of its Beijing co-working spaces to tap the cultural resources of online platform Douban

It is part of the company’s plan to create spaces tailored to appeal to local markets – its offices in Shanghai, for example, are different to those in Beijing

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WeWork China’s office in Parkview Place in Beijing, half of which is occupied by a social and events space. WeWork China is the biggest operator of co-working spaces in the country, say industry insiders. Photo: WeWork

Published: 7:15am, 5 Oct 2021Updated: 9:55am, 5 Oct 2021

About half of co-working space provider WeWork China’s office in Parkview Place, Beijing, is occupied by sofas, bookshelves and a kitchen – space dedicated to communal activities. It can be used as a venue for events, and talks by authors and film directors, for example.

WeWork provides shared office space for start-ups and freelancers all over the world. The “office salon” at the 4,000 square metre (43,000 sq ft) property in Beijing, the country’s capital, opened in September in collaboration with Douban – one of China’s most popular social media and review platforms – in a trial expected to expand to other WeWork offices in China.

WeWork China’s general manager for northern China, Quan Bin, says the “office salon’ approach could help boost cultural exchanges between office workers and Douban’s online users. “Douban boasts the largest online community for books, music and movies,” Quan says.

“Earlier this year [at the co-working space], we organised a photo exhibition on the works of Douban’s photography lovers.” The success of the event convinced the WeWork China team to set up the “salon” within the Parkview Place office.

The Beijing ‘’office salon‘’ opened in September in collaboration with Douban. Photo: WeWork

“There’s no limit to our future collaboration partners,” Quan says. “Health and fashion brands can also hold events in the salon.”