Career upgrade
After studying hotel management at a vocational college in Qingdao, Shandong province, Chen spent more than a year in hotel service. But with limited opportunities to advance and tiring work hours, he decided to look for a different career. In 2024, he learned from his relatives that data centers in his hometown were looking to train people in new skills.
"At first, I knew little about the data industry," he said. "What attracted me was the chance to enter an emerging sector and learn."
He returned to Ulaanqab for a training course that began in May that year. Chen learned the basics including electrical and cooling systems, and facility operations. He eventually landed a job at GDS, where he rose quickly to the role of shift leader.
Chen said his monthly salary roughly doubled from his previous hotel job income — to more than 8,000 yuan ($1,198). His job also comes with social insurance, housing provident fund contributions and allowances for night shifts.
His work schedule consists of a day shift, night shift and two days off — about 15 working days a month, which gives him time for leisure and his family.
As a shift leader, he needs a thorough understanding of the equipment, must be able to identify potential problems and respond quickly when something goes wrong.
"The job has pushed me to keep learning," Chen said.
His high-tech role is in stark contrast to his family's rural roots. "My grandparents were farmers," he said. "They grew potatoes, oats and buckwheat, and raised pigs and chickens. My father and uncles had to leave home to work as cooks or laborers on construction sites."
Chen himself spent part of his childhood moving between Datong in neighboring Shanxi province and Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, as his family followed job opportunities. Today's data center is a short 20-minute commute from his home.
"I feel more settled and secure now. I can stay close to my family," he said.
Chen has recommended similar training to several friends, some of whom now work for data centers in Ulaanqab. His colleagues also include those who have gravitated to the computing hub from elsewhere.
At GDS's Ulaanqab bases, local employees account for more than 70 percent of the workforce. Their responsibilities range from routine inspections to equipment management and technical upgrades.
