Bamboo bikes hang on the wall opposite BBB. [Photo by Clare Buchanan/China Daily]

"There is nothing here without them. Everything you see in here was the idea of somebody, even the tool rack was somebody's idea. It's definitely by no means a one-man operation," Wang says.

Yan Tianhang took up a BBB internship after hearing about it from her classmate.

During a workshop she patiently lends a hand measuring bamboo and reassures "bike builders" when their sawing skills don't quite cut it.

"The part I enjoy the most is talking to people from all over the world," says the 18-year-old, who is going to study at Beijing Institute of Technology.

"In my normal life I don't have the chance to meet so many people from different countries and I can't practice my English. At first, I was afraid to talk to people but it has made me more outgoing."

Yan has been working on bringing an old, rusty bike back to life, a task she describes as "very tough", but she hopes to collect more unused parts to build a complete bike.

"BBB is like a big family and you can talk to everyone freely, unafraid and you can learn how to build bikes, learn how to paint, learn so many useful things."

Another intern is getting to know the BBB neighbors; something Wang believes, along with prioritizing knowledge sharing over profit-making and having an open-door policy, leads to productive relationships.

Passersby peer to see what's happening, one of them, a jewelry maker, stays and starts making necklaces after asking if she could use some tools and bamboo scraps.

Wang says that once after introducing himself to a neighbor, she gave the person a set of folders she had at home that were far better than the ones being used at BBB.

"Getting to know these people helps a lot actually and it's fun. I think that's what being neighborly is about."

Contact the writer at clare@chinadaily.com.cn

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