Innovis, Singapore2023
ShanHaiWoo
A builder community blending technology, mythology, and gamified collaboration in an annual month-long village.
What is ShanHaiWoo?
ShanHaiWoo is a community that builds month-long pop-up villages, inspired by Chinese mythology.
History
ShanHaiWoo was one of the earliest Zuzalu-inspired network state experiments. Since then, it has hosted several pop-up villages:
2023 - The founding year. ShanHaiWoo Beidahu is hosted in a ski resort in Northeast China.
2024 - Moving south, ShanHaiWoo hosts its second physical meetup, a co-learning and co-creating 6-week pop-up village in Thailand - ShanHaiWoo Chiang Mai.
2025 - Further south, in Singapore, ShanHaiWoo organizes ShanHaiWoo Singapore, a one-month village that attracted over 200 builders.
In 2026, it plans to host a pop-up village before Devcon 2026.
Location
ShanHaiWoo has hosted events across Asia.
- ShanHaiWoo Beidahu - Beidahu, a ski resort located in Jilin, China.
- ShanHaiWoo Chiang Mai - The Wall Nimman, a community center located in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
- ShanHaiWoo Singapore - Innovis, a corporate office located in Singapore.
Duration
ShanHaiWoo runs week-long and month-long temporary physical nodes.
It isn’t yet established in a permanent spot.
Pricing
- ShanHaiWoo Beidahu*
- Resident: $70/month or $17.5/week.
- Guest: $112/month or $28/week.
Total ticket sales totaled roughly $1,932.
- ShanHaiWoo Chiang Mai
- Wave 01: $199/6-weeks or $50/week.
Closed 15 days before event start. - Wave 02: $269/6-weeks or $80/week.
Closed the day the event started.
- Wave 01: $199/6-weeks or $50/week.
Ticket prices increased once the event began.
- ShanHaiWoo Singapore
- No participation fee was charged. Given the high costs of staying in Singapore, ShanHaiWoo offered a limited number of scholarships to students and builders.
Each scholarship was valued at around $2,500. A total of 121 scholarships were received, and only 28 (21.2%) were accepted.
*Values rounded from RMB to USD at the rate of 1 RMB = 0.14 USD.
Amenities
- Co-working space.
- Lecture hall.
- Meeting rooms.
- Workshops, lectures, and events.
Flights, accommodation, and meals are usually not included in the ticket price.
Reviews
" During my time at ShanHaiWoo, I felt peace and love, inaction. " Jiang, Software Engineer
We pursued doing nothing, but it seemed like we did everything. Mountain climbing, monasticism, metaphysics, stargazing, and web3. Old friends reunite and meet new ones. While having fun, I learned a lot of new things and came up with a lot of new ideas.
" Unlike Wamao, ShanHaiWoo's location is not as diverse as Dali Old Town. " Zhixiong Pan, Founder at Chainfeeds
There are not many activities for participants. Also, because it is the off-season, everyone participates more in activities such as hiking and board games.
How can you get involved?
- Apply for an upcoming pop-up village, typically announced on X.
- Reach out directly via contact@shanhaiwoo.com.
- Join the Telegram community for info and updates.
FAQs
What is the goal of ShanHaiWoo?
To create an environment where everyone feels comfortable creating and sharing their ideas.
What are ShanHaiWoo’s values?
ShanHaiWoo lives by the mantra The more indie we become, the more community we need. It embraces new technology, generational knowledge, decentralization, and respect for individuality.
Do I need to book my own accommodation in ShanHaiWoo's pop-up villages?
Yes. Accommodation, transportation, and meals are usually not covered by tickets. They do offer discounted rates through special deals with nearby hotels.
What does a ticket include?
- Full access to conferences, seminars, workshops, and hackathons (including expert-led sessions scheduled at least 1–2 days per week).
- Unlimited use of co-working spaces, lecture halls, and meeting rooms.
- Weekly town-hall meetings and structured ice-breaking activities facilitated by experienced coaches.
- Outdoor market events and daily group workouts.
What is not included in a ticket?
Food, accommodation, and transportation.
What is the meaning of “ShanHaiWoo”?
The name ShanHaiWoo is inspired by the classical Chinese text Shan Hai Jing (Classic of Mountains and Seas), a compilation of mythic geography and beasts.
Shan: Mountain | Hai: Sea | Woo/Wu: Enclave
Is there any funding or compensation for participating?
Yes. ShanHaiWoo offers scholarships to students and prominent builders, helping them pay for their expenses during the pop-up village program. It also opens doors to potential investments from Tier-1 VCs to the winners of its accelerator program.
What is the typical structure of a ShanHaiWoo pop-up village?
1. Residency Program. Weeks of co-living, co-building and co-learning with dozens of other builders.
2. Final Demo Day. Signals the peak of a month-long builder residency, featuring top teams presenting their Ethereum-native innovations to mentors, investors, and the broader ecosystem.
3. Closing Ceremony. Reflections, keynote talks, demo highlights, and a preview of the future, looking ahead to upcoming Zu pop-ups worldwide.