47 | Inside a Failing Digital Nomad Co-living in China

In this third episode from China, Christoph Huebner travels from Shanghai to the Chengdu region to explore the digital nomad scene – and what he finds is a tale of two very different communities.

First, we go back to a rural village outside Shanghai, where a digital nomad co-living project is quietly thriving. Here, the focus is on people, connection, and shared experiences. Guests arrive for a few days and end up staying for weeks – sometimes even months – drawn in by a strong sense of community and belonging.

Then, Christoph heads to DN Beta, a large co-living space located about 100 kilometres south of Chengdu. On paper, it has everything – modern facilities, coworking spaces, and ambitious plans to attract digital nomads.

But when he arrives, something feels off.

Despite the scale and investment, the place is nearly empty. There are no activities, no real sense of community, and even basic things aren't working. What looks like a flagship project turns out to be a powerful example of how not to build a digital nomad hub.

So what makes one place work – and another fail?

This episode explores the difference between building infrastructure and building community, and why one matters far more than the other.

Key Takeaways

• Community is the foundation – without it, even the best facilities feel empty
• Successful co-living spaces grow organically through people, not top-down planning
• Government-driven projects can struggle when they focus on image over experience
• Digital nomads stay for connection, not just accommodation
• Small, human details – activities, hosts, atmosphere – make the biggest difference
• Building first and hoping people will come is a risky strategy

Relevant Links

• Nomad Summit: https://nomadsummit.com
• Episode produced by RadioGuru: https://radioguru.co.uk