This article assesses inter-company networks based on a type of urban area labelled as a 'creative industry cluster' (CCJQ) and explores the interaction between CCJQs and creative industry networks. With the use of questionnaire surveys and interviews, Shanghai's property-led clusters are found to contain inter-company networks; however, most linkages are part of companies' own inter-group networks. Thus, individual companies -not clusters -drive the evolution of creative industry networks. Accordingly, three problems are identified: the exclusion of network dynamics, weak institutional basis and inadequate local creativity. Finally, this article identifies the variables of CCJQs that affect company networks and offers advice for cluster improvement
