Complete guide

How to find software developers in Beijing

Beijing
February 22, 2023
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Beijing is the capital of China and one of the most populous cities in the world. It is an ancient city with a history of over 3,000 years, and has been the political center of the country for much of that time. It is home to many famous landmarks and monuments, such as the Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China, and Tiananmen Square. Beijing is also a modern city, with a bustling business district, world-class infrastructure, and a diverse cultural scene. It is a vibrant and exciting place to visit and explore. Beijing is also a great place to find software developers. But software engineers in Beijing are also hard to find and hard to hire. Experienced developers get a lot of messages from recruiters, in some cases five or ten messages per day. To find engineers in Beijing you have to search for engineers in different sources, reach out based on their preferred contact details, personalize your outreach and make an attractive offer. In this guide you'll learn more about the tech ecosystem in Beijing, which methods to use to find developers and how to hire them.

Why Beijing is a good place to find developers

Developer statistics in Beijing

According to data from the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), the number of tech talent in Beijing was approximately 1.7 million in 2019, accounting for around 4.7% of the total population. The city is home to the highest concentration of tech talent in China, making it an attractive destination for tech companies. In addition, Beijing is home to some of the country's top universities and research institutions, such as Peking University and Tsinghua University, which produce a high number of graduates with expertise in STEM fields. According to a report published by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics, the number of tech professionals in Beijing rose by 4.2% in 2019, with the majority of those professionals being employed in the software and IT services industries. Furthermore, the city is home to some of the world's largest tech companies, such as Tencent, Baidu and Alibaba, which employ thousands of tech professionals.

The tech ecosystem in Beijing

The tech ecosystem in Beijing is highly developed and rapidly growing. It is home to some of the world’s leading tech companies, including Baidu, Tencent, and Huawei. The city is also home to a large number of venture capital firms, incubators, and accelerators, which are supporting the growth of innovative startups. With its strong government support, Beijing has become a hub for entrepreneurs and tech companies alike. The city also boasts a vibrant tech community, with numerous events, meetups, and conferences bringing together industry leaders from around the world.

Best tech meetups in Beijing

Attending local meetups is a great way of getting introduced  to technical talent and getting a better feel for what software developers care about.
These are the best local meetups:

1. Beijing Python User Group
2. Beijing Cloud Computing Meetup
3. Beijing Entrepreneur & Startup Business Meetup
4. Beijing Big Data Meetup
5. Beijing Blockchain Meetup
6. Beijing Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Meetup
7. Beijing Mobile Development Meetup
8. Beijing Ruby User Group
9. Beijing DevOps Meetup
10. Beijing Internet of Things Meetup

Best methods to source and recruit talent in Beijing

There are many different ways to find and hire developers, some examples are:



1. Utilize Job Portals: Job portals such as indeed.com, 51job.com, and zhilian.com are a great way to source software development talent in Beijing. These sites provide job seekers with the ability to create profiles and search for jobs.

2. Use Social Media: Sites like LinkedIn and WeChat are popular social media platforms in China and can be used to source software development talent in Beijing.

3. Post on Chinese Forums: Chinese forums such as Douban and Baidu Tieba are great places to post job openings and find qualified software developers.

4. Attend Networking Events: Many tech companies in Beijing host networking events and hackathons where you can meet and connect with talented software developers.

5. Hire a Recruiter: Hiring a recruiter who specializes in software development talent in Beijing can make the process of finding the right fit a lot easier.

These are currently the best methods to find and hire developers:

Search LinkedIn, GitHub and Stack Overflow and reach out

The best way to find developer talent in Beijing is to find them in the places where they have an online profile and are active. Examples of those platforms are GitHub and Stack Overflow. LinkedIn can also be a valuable source.

Talent search engines can help you find developers online through a variety of sources. Most talent search engines also provide verified contact details so you can reach out to the talent you have found. In some cases these engines even automate a big part of the outreach process so you can reach hundreds of candidates per day.

An example of a talent search and engagement engine is HeroHunt.ai which can find 1 billion candidates worldwide and lets you reach out automatically with personalized messages.

Best job boards to find developers in Beijing

An alternative way to attract development talent is to post a job on a (local) job board.

These are the best local job boards to post your developer job on:

1. LinkedIn
2. Seekers
3. Zhaopin
4. Liepin
5. Job592
6. 51job
7. ChinaHR
8. Jobcn
9. Boss Zhipin
10. Lagou

Best remote job boards to find developers in Beijing

If you are sourcing for remote talent then you can utilize remote specific job boards where you can post your remote job.

These are the best remote job boards to post your developer job on:

1. China job portals
2. LinkedIn
3. WeWorkRemotely
4. Jobspresso
5. Upwork
6. Remotive
7. Indeed
8. Glassdoor
9. AngelList
10. Zhaopin

How to hire software developers from any place without a local office

When you’re hiring software developers you need to be aware of the local average salaries in order to provide a competitive job offer. Below are the average salaries for software developers per experience level.

Average local salaries

Average salary for a junior software developer in Beijing

The average salary for a junior developer in Beijing is approximately 46,000 RMB per month (roughly 6,600 USD). This figure is based on salaries reported by junior developers working in the city. Junior developers typically have 1-3 years of experience and are responsible for writing code and creating software applications. They may also be asked to debug existing code and applications, as well as provide technical support and troubleshooting. In addition to salary, junior developers often receive additional benefits such as health insurance, vacation days, and a bonus.

Average salary for a senior software developer in Beijing

Average salary for a Senior Developer in Beijing:• Base Salary: CNY 150,000 - 200,000 per annum (USD 22,000 - 29,000)• Bonus: CNY 6,000 - 12,000 per annum (USD 900 - 1800)• Benefits: Medical insurance, housing allowance, transportation allowance, vacation allowance, etc.• Total Compensation: CNY 156,000 - 212,000 per annum (USD 23,000 - 31,000)

Employing software developers (remotely)

Maybe your company doesn't have an office (yet) in Beijing. But that doesn't mean you can't hire employees in Beijing. There are several options like EORs which can help employ developers legally according to the regulations in Beijing.



An Employer of Record (EOR) is a professional services firm that handles payroll and other HR-related matters for companies that operate internationally. An EOR can provide a cost-effective way for businesses to hire employees in Beijing without having to set up a separate legal entity in China.

Here are some tips on how to use an EOR in Beijing:

1. Understand the Benefits: An EOR can provide a number of benefits, such as cost savings, compliance with local labor regulations, and access to experienced HR professionals.

2. Research Potential Providers: It is important to thoroughly research potential EORs to ensure that they have the necessary experience and resources to properly handle payroll and other HR matters in Beijing.

3. Negotiate Terms: Once you have chosen an EOR, it is important to negotiate the terms of the agreement, including fees, services provided, and other contractual requirements.

4. Regularly Monitor Performance: Once the EOR is in place, it is important to regularly monitor their performance to ensure that they are meeting the agreed-upon terms and that payroll and other HR matters are being handled properly.

Using an Employer of Record in Beijing can be a great way for businesses to save time and money while still ensuring compliance with local labor regulations. However, it is important to thoroughly research potential providers and negotiate the terms of the agreement to ensure the best possible outcome.

Use a platform to find and hire the best developers:
Best platforms to employ developers worldwide

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