Guanxi (gwan-shee), the Chinese term for the mutually beneficial relationships that are essential to success, tells the story of the juggernaut research lab that underpins Microsoft's developing relationship with China. The gripping narrative moves between Beijing and the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond,WA, and follows the lab's emergence as a centre of excellence for Chinese computer science. Microsoft has invested well over 100 million dollars and hired more than 400 of China's best and brightest; what was once an outpost is now at the very heart of software research, creating dramatic payoffs for both Microsoft and China.

  Prologue: The Mysterious Journey to China of

 the World's Richest Man, and Other Stories  1

1 Beast from the East

 (November 8-11, 2004)  13

2 The Bell Labs of China

 (Fall 1997-November 1998)  32

3 From Beijing to Bill G.

 (November 1998-October 1999)  60

4 Microsoft's Chinese Heart

 (November 1999-August 2000)  85

s Ya-Qin Dynasty

 (August 2000-July 2001)  111

6 The Great Wall and Other Microsoft

 Creations (October 2001-January 2004)  130

7 Microsoft Made in China

 (November 2002-November 2004)  147

8 The Curious Inventions of Jian Wang

 (September 1999-June 2005)  168

9 Search War

 (March 2003-March 2005)  187

1o The Further Adventures of One-Handed

  Jordan and Mr. Magneto (March-May 2005)  209

11 Battle Over Kai-Fu Lee

  (August 2000-September 2005)  233

12 How to Make It in China

  (Summer and Fall 2005)  259

Epilogue: "Congratulations, We Survived!"  275

A Note on Sources  287

Acknowledgments  291

Index  295