In Beijing's Haidian Book City, an incubator for innovation helps startups, including the company behind the 'poputar' smart guitar, become a success

Zhang Bohan used to strolled over to the Haidian Book City in northwest Beijing in 2005. The cultural landmark, one of the largest bookstores in the Chinese capital, was the ideal destination for the then 15-year-old guitar-lover to buy CDs.

At that time, it seemed impossible for him to predict that the old building at the center of Zhongguancun industrial zone would be transformed into a nationwide incubator for entrepreneurship and innovation.