Ningxia’s First Garage-Style Startup Coffee Hub Opens

In northern China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, a group of recent university graduates saw an opportunity. Inspired by the famed Beijing garage coffee model, they created a local version inside their campus incubator — a place where students with startup dreams could gather, work, and connect without the usual overhead costs.

The answer is simple: for the price of a ¥10 cup of coffee — or even free water — student entrepreneurs gain access to a 600-square-meter co-working space with all the amenities of a professional startup hub. That’s the founding idea behind (Victory Startup Coffee), Ningxia’s first garage-style entrepreneurial coffee space.

What Is Ningxia’s ‘Garage Coffee’?

Ningxia’s take on the garage coffee concept is , launched this year by graduates of North Minzu University. Modeled after the iconic Beijing Zhongguancun garage coffee — a legendary hub for internet startups — this local version repurposes a coffee shop as an affordable, community-driven workspace for young entrepreneurs.

Located inside the university’s 801 Entrepreneurship Incubator Park, the coffee shop offers more than caffeine. It provides a physical space where students with business ideas can meet, collaborate, and launch startups without renting expensive offices. The concept hinges on accessibility: minimal cost for maximum resource access.

How the Space Works

Inside the 600-square-meter venue, the setup is deliberately flexible. Visitors need only order a ¥10 coffee or take free water to access the shared work environment. The space includes an open-plan area for 100 people, plus dedicated rooms for focused work and meetings.

The layout includes:

• One open-plan office hall seating up to 100 people
• Seven private studios for focused teamwork
• Four meeting rooms for pitch practice or investor talks
• One 50-person multi-purpose hall for events or workshops

This setup allows student teams to work side-by-side with mentors, investors, and other startups in a low-pressure, resource-rich environment. The coffee shop functions as both a social hub and a functional workplace.

Who’s Behind the Project?

The project is led by a team of university graduates, including founder Tang Ming. After personally visiting Beijing’s Zhongguancun garage coffee, the team decided to replicate the model in Ningxia — adapting it to local needs and resources.

The venture launched officially on April 1st of this year. The first phase alone required an investment of over ¥1 million. The team’s goal wasn’t just to build another coffee shop, but to create an ecosystem where young entrepreneurs could thrive.

To date, eight startup teams use the space regularly, with more joining as word spreads among the university’s entrepreneurial community.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a ‘garage coffee’ in the Chinese startup context?

In China, ‘garage coffee’ refers to a coffee shop that also functions as a low-cost workspace for startups and entrepreneurs. Modeled after the original Beijing Zhongguancun garage coffee, these spaces allow visitors to work in an open, collaborative environment, often paying only for a cheap coffee or nothing at all. They serve as informal hubs for networking, pitching, and building early-stage ventures.

How much does it cost to use the workspace?

Entrepreneurs can use the open-plan workspace for the price of a ¥10 cup of coffee or even free water. This low barrier to entry makes the space accessible for students and young founders who may not yet have funding or office budgets.

Where is located?

The coffee shop is located inside the 801 Entrepreneurship Incubator Park at North Minzu University in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, close to Yinchuan city. It’s part of a university-supported initiative to foster student entrepreneurship.

What facilities are available inside the ?

The 600-square-meter venue includes a 100-seat open-plan workspace, seven private studios, four meeting rooms, and a 50-person multi-purpose hall. These are designed to support everything from daily work to formal meetings and events.

Who can use the space?

The space is primarily aimed at university students and young entrepreneurs with startup ideas. Anyone with an interest in building a business or collaborating with others on early-stage projects is welcome, especially those affiliated with the university’s innovation programs.

How was the project funded?

The first phase of the project required an investment of over ¥1 million, funded by the founding team and associated supporters. The money went into renovating and equipping the 600-square-meter space to include all necessary facilities for startup work and collaboration.