Yes, China's 9-9-6 work culture does make Silicon Valley look sleepy.  Startup teams in China routinely work 9-9-6 or 12 hours per day, seven days per week while the Bay Area is more accustomed to 9-5-5.

The gap in economic development between China and the United States accounts for this difference. Chinese founders and their teams can't afford to be lazy or act entitled. There's too much work to be done. From what I have seen and experienced in China's leading innovation hubs of Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, a 10-10-7 work culture isn't a stretch. 

A debate is raging online in China whether 9-9-6 is a good thing. Could work hard, play hard yield a better result? 

But China's 9-9-6 culture won't disappear. China is too motivated to succeed. China's tech economy is growing too fast, the competition is too brutal, and the opportunities too vast. 

Over the past decade, China's tech economy has caught up with Silicon Valley in many ways: venture capital, unicorns, IPOs, business models, and innovation in several sectors.  Tomorrow we will see more disruptive innovations coming from China. This is just the start, and that's why China is working so hard.

Why China tech works 996.