U.S., Jan. 18 -- The Start-Up exhibition and conference centre designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the first building within Chengdu's Unicorn Island masterplan, is nearing completion.

With China's economy evolving from traditional industries to internet and technology-based organisations, the country is now home to a third of the world's tech start-ups valued at over $1bn - termed 'unicorn companies'.

Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, has developed into a centre of excellence providing computer chips for half the world's laptops and is a leading producer of mobile computing hardware. With a focus on next-generation information technologies, intelligent manufacturing, digital entertainment and new energy, the Tianfu New Area to t...