The planned result? China’s version of Silicon Valley.

Business Insider reports.

China is promoting college grads to startup CEOs

Quitting her job as receptionist, joining rock bands and chancing her tattoo-sleeved arm at small business ventures would once have branded college graduate Ding Jia as a rebel in China.

Now she can claim state endorsement as a “creative”.

“I haven’t had a formal job in years,” said Ding, 31, sitting in her tiny coffee and cocktails bar on a trendy Shanghai street.

She has no regrets, but no illusions either.

“Entrepreneurship can be a really hard experience,” she said. “Profits can be so thin.”

In the week she spoke to Reuters, she and dozens of nearby businesses were forced to close temporarily by city officials on a regular sortie to enforce regulations.