--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we started out, we didn't really…" description: "\"When we started out, we didn't really think that the era of great opportunity would end one day. We were much too busy developing our companies. But in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/449/zhang-xin-16964_beijing_when-we-started-out-we-didn-t-really-thi_2701829.jpg" --- # When we started out, we didn't really think that the era… ![“When we started out, we didn't really think that the era of great opportunity would end one day. We were much too busy developing our companies. But in today's China you can build a city, even a mega-city like Beijing or Shanghai, within 10 or 15 years. And then you are done. So in real estate…” quote by Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/449/zhang-xin-16964_beijing_when-we-started-out-we-didn-t-really-thi_2701829.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/449/zhang-xin-16964_beijing_when-we-started-out-we-didn-t-really-thi_2701829.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/449/zhang-xin-16964_beijing_when-we-started-out-we-didn-t-really-thi_2701829.jpg) > “When we started out, we didn't really think that the era of great opportunity would end one day. We were much too busy developing our companies. But in today's China you can build a city, even a mega-city like Beijing or Shanghai, within 10 or 15 years. And then you are done. So in real estate development, the Gründerzeit is over. But that is not the case in other sectors.” [Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rapid urban development in China shows that large-scale projects can be completed quickly, but this pace may not translate to other industries, indicating sector-specific dynamics. **In simple terms:** China builds cities fast, but other fields differ. Key Takeaway Recognize sector differences when planning growth. Themes urban development economic growth sectoral differences planning China Mood optimistic cautious reflective Type economic urban strategic When to use this quote - real estate development - technology adoption - manufacturing - service industry - education sector Key Concepts real estate infrastructure policy market dynamics innovation Questions to Reflect On - What sectors can emulate this speed? - How to balance speed with sustainability? A Different Perspective Rapid growth can strain resources and social cohesion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beijing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beijing/) [Build City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build-city-1498951/) [Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) [Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Developing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developing/) [Developing Companies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developing-companies-2738482/) [Development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/development/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Eras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eras/) [Estate Development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/estate-development-2738484/) [Estates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/estates/) [Great opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-opportunity/) [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mega/) [One day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-day/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Opportunity End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity-end-2738483/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real estate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-estate/) [Shanghai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shanghai/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Too busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-busy/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [ It's a little different when you spend 30 years developing all these companies that we just ask \[Donald Trump\] to sell them. 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Land is purchased here in public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-xin/our-company-has-only-been-active-in-beijing-and-shanghai-two-very/) [Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) > [When we started out, we were among the first. Beijing had no and Shanghai had very few large buildings. At that time, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-xin/when-we-started-out-we-were-among-the-first-beijing-had-no-and/) [Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) > [We had to build a city not for businesses or automobiles, but for children and thus for people. Instead of building highways, we restricted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrique-penalosa/we-had-to-build-a-city-not-for-businesses-or-automobiles-but-for/) [Enrique Penalosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrique-penalosa/) > [“When you build a city near no mountains and no ocean, you get materialism and traditional religion. 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We want to create something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammad-bin-salman/we-will-build-the-city-from-scratch-it-will-be-drone-friendly-and-a/) [Mohammad bin Salman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammad-bin-salman/) > [“He was not dead yet, not exactly— parts of him were dead already, certainly other parts were still only waiting for something to happen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-siken/he-was-not-dead-yet-not-exactly-parts-of-him-were-dead-already/) [Richard Siken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-siken/) > [The architect aspires to build in a city as the artist aspires to exhibit his works in a museum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/the-architect-aspires-to-build-in-a-city-as-the-artist-aspires-to/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) > [Man doesn't change. He keeps his habits. Instinctively, all those people found the same corner for their kitchen. To build a city, don't men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/man-doesn-t-change-he-keeps-his-habits-instinctively-all-those-people/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) ## More by Zhang Xin > [But the higher our standard of living, the higher our levels of education, the further people will look around. And we can see which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-xin/but-the-higher-our-standard-of-living-the-higher-our-levels-of/) [Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) > [I'm very, very focused on my children. In fact, I'm very religious about having breakfast with them every morning, having dinner with them every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-xin/i-m-very-very-focused-on-my-children-in-fact-i-m-very-religious-about/) [Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) > [Because people along the route had realized that there was demand and quickly organized supply. That's so Chinese. In a well-organized country like Germany,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-xin/because-people-along-the-route-had-realized-that-there-was-demand-and/) [Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) > [Many years ago, we were only able to build boxes. Today, architects from all over the world are working with us - Zaha Hadid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-xin/many-years-ago-we-were-only-able-to-build-boxes-today-architects-from/) [Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) > [Many Chinese companies are run like military camps with military discipline. We do not run a company that way. It does not help the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-xin/many-chinese-companies-are-run-like-military-camps-with-military/) [Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) > [Isolation means a lack of growth. I grew up in China at a time when the country was completely isolated. That era is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-xin/isolation-means-a-lack-of-growth-i-grew-up-in-china-at-a-time-when/) [Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) > [China - if you think about what is the character of China, it's enormous scale. It's bigness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-xin/china-if-you-think-about-what-is-the-character-of-china-it-s-enormous/) [Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) > [Investors don't like uncertainty. The market is telling us that they need certainty, they need to see where the economy is heading. If the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-xin/investors-don-t-like-uncertainty-the-market-is-telling-us-that-they/) [Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) > [I find it hard to be labelled in this new 'super-rich' category because we all grew up with very little. The idea that 'to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-xin/i-find-it-hard-to-be-labelled-in-this-new-super-rich-category-because/) [Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) > [Quickly, after I landed in England, I found out ways to get scholarships. England turned out to be a very encouraging place for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-xin/quickly-after-i-landed-in-england-i-found-out-ways-to-get/) [Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) > [On the one hand the world is getting more integrated and we should not dismiss social values as "Western" when they are actually modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-xin/on-the-one-hand-the-world-is-getting-more-integrated-and-we-should/) [Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) > [When we started out, we were among the first. Beijing had no and Shanghai had very few large buildings. 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None of us wants to be the richest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-xin/many-chinese-entrepreneurs-are-now-donating-for-education-others/) [Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) [Explore all 38 Zhang Xin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) ## More Beijing quotes > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I see the Beijing National Stadium as an architectural project. I accepted Herzog and De Meuron's invitation to collaborate on the design, and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-see-the-beijing-national-stadium-as-an-architectural-project-i/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Often GOP political strategy seems like the human wave theory of the Chinese military translated to politics. Where Beijing uses masses of soldiers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/often-gop-political-strategy-seems-like-the-human-wave-theory-of-the/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [Air pollution is my biggest concern right now. Maybe because I live in Beijing, and in this city we have such severe challenges due…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-bingbing/air-pollution-is-my-biggest-concern-right-now-maybe-because-i-live-in/) [Li Bingbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-bingbing/) > [Coming into London having the experience of Beijing is really good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-simmonds/coming-into-london-having-the-experience-of-beijing-is-really-good/) [Ellie Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-simmonds/) > [Well it did not make excessive sense to say that 20 million people are the recognized government of a billion people that have their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/well-it-did-not-make-excessive-sense-to-say-that-20-million-people/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I was born and raised in Vancouver. I moved to Beijing in 2010 just before the Olympics. 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Now I am learning how to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/i-think-the-biggest-thing-was-that-i-was-putting-pressure-on-myself/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [My approach to gymnastics in Beijing was heavily based on the amount of difficulty I could do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-johnson/my-approach-to-gymnastics-in-beijing-was-heavily-based-on-the-amount/) [Shawn Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-johnson/) [Browse all 138 Beijing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beijing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we started out, we didn't really think that the era of great opportunity would end one day. We were much too busy developing our companies. But in today's China you can build a city, even a mega-city like Beijing or Shanghai, within 10 or 15 years. And then you are done. So in real estate development, the Gründerzeit is over. 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