Two Women Ditched High-Paying Jobs to Open a Coffee Shop in Hainan

In a quiet courtyard in Haikou, tucked away from the city’s bustle, a small 50-square-meter coffee shop has become a haven for locals seeking something different. Inside Young Town Cafe, the walls are painted brick, the lights are simple incandescent bulbs, and glass jars hold single-origin coffees labeled Mandheling, Yunnan Hope, and Colombia. This isn’t just another café — it’s the result of two friends giving up lucrative careers to follow a shared dream.

Two former corporate professionals from Chongqing quit jobs earning over $40,000 a year to open Young Town Cafe in Haikou. They invested their savings, sourced fresh roasted beans, and built the space themselves, all to create a relaxed space centered around quality coffee and community.

The Dream That Started With a Bike Ride

It all began with a spontaneous bike trip to Tibet. Tang Guo, an 80s-born former white-collar worker earning a 300,000-yuan annual salary, expected her life to follow a predictable path. But during the month-long journey, she met strangers who helped fix her bike, picked wildflowers for her anniversary, and walked miles to share food. These encounters reshaped her view of what truly mattered: living with purpose, not just chasing stability.

Back home, she and her husband talked seriously about change. Though he returned to work in Guangzhou due to lower wages in Hainan, he supported her dream. “We both wanted freedom,” said Tang. “It wasn’t about escaping the city, but building something we loved.”

How Hainan Became Their Unexpected Coffee Destination

The idea of Hainan came unexpectedly. While sending postcards from Tibet, Tang reconnected with her old middle school friend and high school deskmate, Yang Jie. Yang had moved to Hainan, hundreds of miles away. They decided to meet for a bike trip around the island. What started as a vacation turned into inspiration.

“The air was fresh, the pace was slow, and people actually drank coffee here,” Tang recalled. “We saw cafes everywhere. You could sit for hours with a strong black coffee. That’s when I knew — this was the life I wanted.” Hainan’s established coffee culture and lower living costs made it the perfect place to launch their cafe.

From Corporate Life to Coffee Craft

Yang Jie had already taken the first step. She attended a well-known coffee school in Wuhan and returned to Hainan with new skills. Tang learned by shadowing her and reading everything she could. Both women, originally from science backgrounds, immersed themselves in the craft — studying grind size, water temperature, brew time, and coffee freshness.

“Every coffee bean is different. You have to adjust your grind, your pour, even the mood in the room,” said Tang. They chose single origins like Mandheling and Yunnan Hope, sourcing beans from reliable roasters despite higher costs, because “great coffee should taste like the place it came from.”

Building a Cafe With Heart and Salvaged Wood

The pair originally considered opening in Shanghai, but rent prices were prohibitive. “Hainan had the coffee culture, the community, and the affordable space we needed,” said Yang. They found their location, designed the space themselves, and hunted through every wood market in Haikou for the perfect tabletops.

The decor is modest but intentional — bricks painted white, burlap instead of wallpaper, chalkboard menus, and hand-picked coffee gear. One wall features a painting of a bird of paradise, created by Yang’s husband. “We didn’t have much money, but we had time, creativity, and a clear vision,” Tang said.

Why the Name 'Young Town'?

The cafe’s English name came about organically. After struggling to find the right title, they joked about combining their surnames — Tang and Yang — to make “Young Town.” It matched their Chinese name, (Ni Shi Guang), meaning “against time” or “forever young.” “It felt perfect. We want this place to feel timeless, like a spot where time slows down,” Tang explained.

Coffee With a Story

Running the cafe also meant sharing the stories behind the beans. Yang loved explaining how Mandheling got its name — a case of wartime misunderstanding between a Japanese officer and local Indonesian farmers. “Coffee isn’t just about brewing. It’s about history, culture, and connection,” she said.

Tang emphasized the importance of technique: grind size, water temp (around 93°C), and precise timing all impact flavor. “The best coffee isn’t necessarily the most expensive. It’s the one made with care,” she noted. Their favorite tools, like a long-spouted pour-over kettle, help control flow rate and keep brew temperatures steady for optimal extraction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the two women quit their jobs to open a coffee shop?

After a life-changing bike trip to Tibet, Tang Guo reevaluated her priorities and decided she wanted to pursue a more meaningful and creative life. Along with her childhood friend Yang Jie, they chose to open a coffee shop in Hainan to build a business centered on their love of coffee and community, leaving behind stable, high-paying corporate jobs.

Where is Young Town Cafe located?

Young Town Cafe is located in a quiet courtyard in Haikou, Hainan. The 50-square-meter space features a minimalist design with exposed brick walls, incandescent lighting, and shelves of single-origin coffee beans.

What kind of coffee beans do they serve?

They serve a variety of single-origin beans including Mandheling, Yunnan Hope, and Colombia. They prioritize freshness and source beans from trusted roasters, despite the higher cost, to ensure quality and taste authenticity.

Did they have any formal coffee training?

Yang Jie attended a coffee school in Wuhan to study brewing techniques, while Tang Guo learned through hands-on experience, research, and practice. Both focused on mastering grind size, water temperature, brew time, and other key variables in specialty coffee preparation.

Why did they choose Hainan over other places like Shanghai?

Hainan offered a more affordable cost of living, a slower pace of life, an established coffee drinking culture, and personal connections. Shanghai’s high rents made it impractical, whereas Hainan provided the right environment for their vision.

What’s the story behind the cafe’s name?

The English name, Young Town, came from combining their surnames — Tang and Yang. It reflects their Chinese name’s meaning of “against time” or “forever young,” symbolizing a space where time slows down and passions thrive.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for a Cozy Cafe Vibe

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