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Published: April 30th 2008
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If this is Tuesday, it must be Shanghai. Yea, we took the trip back to Shanghai. There is a factory there that makes fishing accessories and backpacks. Before that, though, we meet with David, an asian american from Flushing Queens, who is in the handbag and jewlery business. David used to live in Taiwan and is engaged with Judith. He is a great guy and is always thinking of ways to improve his business. Comes to China 3X year and arrived from the Canton Business Expo.
We first go sightseeing, the Oriental Pearl TV tower,. The tower, surrounded by the Yangpu Bridge in the northeast and the Nanpu Bridge in the southwest, creates a picture of "twin dragons playing with pearls". The entire scene is a photographic site that excites the imagination and attracts thousands of visitors year-round.
Then we went to the Riverfront, a place to watch boats going upriver. All kinds, cargo boats, container ships, even coal barges. But no pleasure boats, and no kayaks. hmmmm....
The Port area can only have small draft boats, so its mostly local traffic. David told me that the large container vessels stay outside in the Harbor, and that all
US cargo to one side, and then everyone else. Thats because US container ships are picking up and taking out, and others aybe dropping off raw materials.
We then went to a real nice shopping area called the called Yuyuan Garden, a place of peace and comfort in the heart of bustling Shanghai. It was constructed in the period of Ming Dynasty from 1559 and completed in 1577.
Now a popular tourist destination, Yuyuan began as a private garden created by Pan Yunduan, who spend almost 20 years and all his savings to build a garden in older to please his parents in their old age. Do hear that girls - to please his parents!
That is why he called the garden "Yuyuan", because "yu" in Chinese means "peace and health. This place is tourist shopping heaven. You can buy anything you want. But it is very crowded. Many foreigners, many Chinese. When I wanted to get some baubbles and trinkets, Judith and David said "not here" and brought me to the "place for local shoppers". Down an alley and make a right, and there is a flea market atmosphere with no foreigners (except irish me). Good
stuff for reasonable charge. And I had two interpreters who can haggle! They double teamed the merchants. Merchants had no chance!
Then we went to visit the backpack factory office. We met Jakie Chen (NO- not the movie star - Jackie Chan), the owner and GM of Shanghai Baoikai Group. They also have a company that makes handbags, (Davids interest). We discussed business, modifications to some of his products that could be used by kayak fishermen. Anything we may buy, and he would personalize with logo, add shppoing tickets, etc.
After a few hours, We went to see Johnny Hu, a Travel Agency Owner who is interested in increasing his tours for Americans, who see reluctant to come to China. I told him Americans who come over to China for tours are a little crazy, (like my two dear sisters). He asked me about my experiences in coming and I told him that an interpreter/guide is a must for any visitor. The smaller the group the better. They were genuinely interested in incresing their business with American business persons. I dont know if it helped, but who knows?
We went to dinner with Jakie Chen and his
office staff. We ate at a traditional Shanghai Restaurant. Meals are served like this: The host gets the menu, then he orders five to fifeteen dishes, asking everyone what they like, then they bring the food out a little at a time. They place it on the "Lazy Susan" in the middle of the table, it is turned around, and the guests sample each dish. You have only one small plate and one bowl/spoon combo. You take some food off the serving dish and eat it. You dont fill up your plate like it was a buffet. The plate can have some, but not much food. The soup is ladled into the bowl. Always have chopsticks, never point the at anyone, and dont lay them on the plate when not using them. The hosts thinks your finished and will ask. Use the chopstick holder.
After dinner, we went to a "Bavarian Munich Brauhouse" Geran style restaurant beer hall. Waitresses dressed in Bavarian costumes. Philipino girl band again singing Omm Paa Paa songs and german tunes, along with traditional pop songs.
Then back to the hotel. Very productive day. Tomorrow it is back to Hangzhou, and a visit to
a Buddhist Temple.
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