Rigorous Education System: China has a very competitive educational system with a strong emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects. From a young age, students are encouraged to excel in math and sciences, which provides a solid foundation for coding and software development.
High Pressure and Discipline: The "Gao Kao" examination (a national college entrance exam) is one of the most intense exams globally, encouraging high levels of discipline, problem-solving, and perseverance. Many top students pursue computer science and software engineering degrees as a result of this system.
Focused University Programs: Chinese universities, particularly top institutions like Tsinghua and Peking University, have rigorous computer science programs that focus heavily on technical competence and practical skills.
2. Large Developer Base and Competition
Huge Developer Pool: China has an enormous population, meaning there are many more developers compared to most European countries. More competition often drives better quality because developers have to excel to stand out.
Tech Industry Boom: The rise of Chinese tech giants such as Alibaba, Tencent, and ByteDance has created a highly competitive environment where developers are constantly pushed to innovate and improve. The demand for skilled developers is vast, and this fuels a culture of rapid learning and upskilling.
3. Work Ethic and Long Hours
"996" Work Culture: Chinese tech companies are notorious for the "996" work schedule—working from 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week. While this is controversial and criticized for its impact on work-life balance, it does mean that Chinese developers often spend significantly more time coding than their European counterparts, leading to more practice and rapid accumulation of skills.
Cultural Attitude Toward Hard Work: In China, there is a strong cultural belief in "吃苦" (chi ku) or "enduring hardship." This belief emphasizes the importance of working hard and persevering through difficulties, a trait that may help developers solve complex problems with dedication.
4. Access to Technology and Resources
Government Support for Tech: The Chinese government has made significant investments in technology and innovation. There are numerous initiatives to develop the country’s AI, blockchain, and cloud computing industries, providing developers with cutting-edge tools and platforms to work with.
Growing Open-Source Involvement: While historically China had less of a presence in the open-source community, that is rapidly changing. Chinese developers are increasingly contributing to and learning from global open-source projects, which boosts their coding proficiency and helps them adopt best practices from around the world.
5. Focus on Competitive Programming and Problem-Solving
Competitive Coding Platforms: Many Chinese developers actively participate in competitive programming platforms such as LeetCode and Codeforces. This builds strong problem-solving abilities and algorithmic thinking, skills that are valuable in coding but not always emphasized as much in Europe.
