Laptops at the Ready: A Shortlist of Beijing Coworking Spaces, Fees, and Facilities

Whether you are a solo freelancer or trying to get a start-up off the ground, sometimes it pays to have a professional space to work in (i.e. not the couch or your bed). Luckily for us flexible working types, Beijing is awash with quality coworking spaces where you can rent desks by the day or month. Below is a selection of the best-known spaces, with options across the city. 

Prototype, Hotel Jen
Hotel Jen continues on its path towards being the trendiest hotel in Beijing with its third-floor coworking space, Prototype. The 320-square-meter open space has plenty of comfortable seating, individual pods, and power and USB ports. A café called Kitchen-To-Go sells self-service snacks so you can grab a quick bite. You can book a seat on the phone or online through hotel’s official WeChat account (WeChat ID: HotelJenBeijing).

Pricing: From RMB 150 per person per day or RMB 3,500 per person per month. Summer promotion: Four hours use of the space for just RMB 50 per person and free use on weekends
Inclusions: High-speed Wi-Fi, free-flow Western tea, brewed coffee, and cookies. Thursday, 4-6pm, is happy hour with free-flow craft beer. Members also get a 15 percent discount at Jen's F&B outlets
Meeting/Event Spaces: Thirteen rooms, 3-300 capacity, from RMB 260 per room per hour

Related: Six tips for creating a stress-free home office

Naked Hub Jiuxianqiao
Shanghai-based Naked Hub's first Beijing location is located a stone's throw away from 798 Art District. Set in a restored factory space, the design merges original architectural features with contemporary elements. In addition to standard office facilities, Naked Hub also has a ping pong room and free-flow beer, so you can really kick back and relax after a hard day's work. 

Pricing: Hot desk RMB 1,800 per person per month, open office RMB 2,800 per person per month, private office from RMB 3,000 per person per month
Inclusions: High-speed wifi, free-flow tea, coffee, soft drinks, and beer, printing and office services, showers and lockers
Meeting/Event Spaces: Up to 200 capacity
Other locations: Sanlitun (coming soon)

TechTemple Beixinqiao
Perfect for those who want to be a bit nearer to the hutongs, TechTemple is located just 5 minutes south of Beixinqiao subway station. The space is open and airy, with plenty of seating options whether you want to work individually or as a team. TechTemple also offers value-added services such as legal and financial advice, and assistance with marketing and promotion.

Pricing: From RMB 1,700 per person per month
Inclusions: High-speed Wi-Fi, unlimited soft drinks, printing and office services
Meeting/Event Spaces: Five meeting rooms, up to 120 capacity
Other Locations: Sanlitun, Wangjing 

WeWork Guanghua Lu
International chain WeWork has several locations in Beijing, the most central of which is the newly opened Office Park Guanghua Lu location. The light and airy space has plenty of breakout areas for creative thinking as well as close proximity to the greenery of Central Park, if you really need to get out. This location also offers parking, an arcade room, and a wellness room for nursing, prayer or meditation. 

Pricing: Hot desk RMB 2,000 per person per month, dedicated desk RMB 2,750 per person per month, private office from RMB 3,950 per month
Inclusions: High-speed Ethernet and Wi-Fi Internet, free-flow fruit water and freshly roasted coffee, printing and office services
Meeting/Event Spaces: Numerous rooms, 2-25 capacity
Other Locations: Ciyunsi, Wangjing (coming soon)

UrWork Dongsi (5Lmeet)
Founded by Mao Daqing, UrWork is often touted as China's answer to WeWork. With more that 20 locations across Beijing from Haidian to 798, it won't be hard to find a UrWork location that suits you. You can book desks and meeting spaces at all of their locations in Beijing (and the rest of China) via their app. Our personal favorite is the Dongsi location, operated as 5Lmeet. As well as all of the usual benefits of a coworking space, 5Lmeet has the advantage of access to food incubator Hatchery and even trendy short-term let apartments.   

Pricing: Hot desk from RMB 100 per day
Inclusions: High-speed Wi-Fi Internet, free-flow coffee and water
Meeting/Event Spaces: Several for up to 100 capacity
Other Locations: See full list here

DayDayUp Sanlitun
Smack bang in the middle of Sanlitun, with great views over the surrounding area, DayDayUp is a great option for those who want to be close to the action. It must be good because several other Silicon Valley companies are located in the same complex. DayDayUp also helps global companies enter the Chinese market and Chinese companies stay in touch with their global partners, so you will be working in a dynamic environment. DayDayUp members also get discounts at local restaurants and venues. 

Other Locations: Qianmen, Zhongguancun 

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Photos courtesy of the venues