[Report] Alibaba's 'Silicon Valley of the Continent'... 610,000-pyeong Headquarters Armed with IT Technology

Visited Alibaba Hangzhou Xixi Campus Spanning 610,000 Pyeong
Functions as Global Headquarters... Offices for AliExpress and Others
Zone C Completed in May, First Domestic Media Reveal
Indoor Sports Facilities and Shops Fully Equipped
Incorporates Latest IT Technologies

"One of my favorite things to do is take a walk around the campus lake during lunchtime. I enjoy seeing how the scenery changes with the seasons. I think it's a great way to recharge before heading back to work."

On the 4th, we visited Alibaba's Xixi Campus in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. Luana Botelho, Latin America Manager at AliExpress, expressed her fondness for the company's charm in this way.

The main gate of this location, which serves as Alibaba Group's global headquarters, resembled a university campus more than a company. During rush hour, employees were passing through the main gate on foot, bicycles, or motorcycles. Inside the campus, employees gathered in small groups and hurried to their workplaces. Many also used shared bicycles available for anyone on campus.

The exterior view of Alibaba Hangzhou Xixi Campus. [Photo by Alibaba]

Located in the high-tech industrial development zone designated by Hangzhou City, Alibaba's Xixi Campus covers an area of 2.01 million square meters (about 610,000 pyeong). The size of the office buildings alone is more than twice that of Yonsei University's Sinchon Campus (about 960,000 square meters). More than 40,000 employees work at the Xixi Campus. The campus features a natural lake at its center and park-like rest areas throughout the facilities. Due to the large size of the campus, employees move around the office buildings using free shared bicycles and personal motorcycles. The Xixi Campus is divided into three zones: A, B, and C.

Zone C Completed in May, Extensive Welfare Facilities Provided

Lobby of the Visitor Center in Zone C of Alibaba Hangzhou Xixi Campus.
[Photo by Alibaba]

The visitor center in Zone C, which the press visited that day, resembled a large shopping mall more than a company office. Construction began in 2019, and Zone C, completed last May, is the newest of the three zones. With a total investment of about 6.7 billion yuan (approximately 1.26 trillion KRW), Zone C was unveiled to the domestic media for the first time. The eight-story visitor center features an open central lobby with a glass roof that enhances natural lighting. It houses meeting rooms for employees and external visitors, as well as various welfare facilities for staff.

This is the area with the highest number of employees on campus. About 30,000 people, accounting for 75% of the Xixi Campus workforce, work here. Major Alibaba Group affiliates located in Zone C include Alibaba Holdings and Alibaba International Digital Commerce (AIDC) Group. AIDC includes e-commerce companies such as AliExpress, which operates domestically, Alibaba.com, and Lazada.

Alibaba employees are working in the flexible work area set up in Alibaba Circle, Zone C of Alibaba Hangzhou Xixi Campus.
[Photo by Alibaba]

Zone C consists of seven buildings connected around the visitor center. After entering through the visitor center, employees can move to their offices via the approximately 800-meter-long circular corridor called the "Ali Circle." Access to office areas requires passing through security gates.

The welfare facilities in Zone C are comparable to a small city. The communal spaces include a cafeteria and cafes, as well as numerous retail stores such as a supermarket, convenience store, and flower shop. The cafeteria operates as a food court with various restaurants offering Chinese dishes like Peking duck and Malatang, as well as Korean dishes such as bibimbap. A meal costs about 3,000 to 4,000 KRW.

The cafeteria in Zone C of Alibaba Hangzhou Xixi Campus.
Photo by Lee Myunghwan

Indoor and outdoor sports facilities in Zone C of Alibaba Hangzhou Xixi Campus.
[Photo by Alibaba]

Sports facilities are diverse, including not only a gym but also indoor basketball and badminton courts, table tennis, Pilates, and a boxing gym. Outdoors, there is a FIFA-certified grass soccer field and a running track. On weekends, Alibaba employees' families can also use these facilities.

At the heart of Campus C is a lake and garden designed for relaxation. The lake in the center of the garden is shaped like the smiling face of the Alibaba logo. Various aquatic plants and animals inhabit the area. The company explained that it is popular for walks and as a spot for employees' wedding photo shoots.

A garden and artificial lake decorated in the center of Zone C at Alibaba Hangzhou Xixi Campus.
[Photo by Myunghwan Lee, provided by Alibaba]

From Entry to Payment via Facial Recognition... 'Robot Security Guards' Handle Security

An employee of Alibaba International is passing through the gate using facial recognition.
[Photo by Lee Myunghwan]

There are also spaces designed to boost employees' work efficiency. Flexible workspaces have been arranged to allow employees to work freely outside of rigid office settings. These include caf?-style areas in the center of Zone C overlooking the garden, furnished with various types of chairs and tables. Unique seats combining chairs with cycling exercise equipment are also provided so employees can work while exercising.

As Alibaba Group has developed based on IT, the latest technologies have been widely applied. For example, lighting and heating/cooling in offices and rest areas can be individually controlled via an employee app. Employees present in a location can adjust lighting and indoor temperature through the app. Security is managed by robot police patrolling every corner of the campus. These robots send warning messages and immediately report to the security center if they detect dangerous behavior or injured persons.

If employees encounter problems during work, they can seek help from robots inside and outside the campus. Simple questions can be answered by the robots, while more complex issues are forwarded to dedicated staff who find solutions. Robots also handle cleaning inside and outside the buildings.

Entry gates for employees use facial recognition, allowing access without ID cards. All shops and vending machines on campus support Alibaba's easy payment system, Alipay. After selecting items, payment can be made simply by facial recognition at payment counters or vending machines. Payment is also possible via QR codes on smartphone apps.

Cleaning robot operating in Zone C of Alibaba Hangzhou Xixi Campus. [Photo by Alibaba]

Employees expressed satisfaction with the facilities and welfare at the Xixi Campus. Mr. Wo Hui, who is in charge of AI work at Alibaba International, said, "Many colleagues come to the campus with their families on weekends to enjoy leisure time," adding, "Working and living in the new campus itself creates diverse experiences."