Article 1: Business Leaders Make Contacts in China
Article 2: Inland Empire China Delegation mixes business, pleasure
Article 3: March China Trip
Article 4: Anaheim Chamber mission to China 2002
Article 6: China tours big lure for local merchants

Corana Chamber Trip To China
By Cynthia Schneider

After nearly a year of planning, the departure date for the Chamber trip to China finally arrived. Although we knew that more than 600 total travelers, from many different Chambers, were to join us on this trip, none of us were prepared for what that meant at the ticket counter. China Air doesn’t reserve seats in advance and check-in went slowly as each person jockeyed for “good” seats for the twelve hour flight. As far as I could tell, the Chamber groups almost filled the 747 airliner I traveled on, and I knew other Chamber members were traveling on earlier flights. Everywhere I looked I saw the red name tags that would identify us as “Chamber” travelers as we moved through China.

Silk Industry in Suzhou

Excitement was high and the flight buzzed with people in the aisles looking for friends they knew were on the same flight and with groups of travelers visiting once they located one another. Although twelve hours is a long trip by any standard, the flight was quite pleasant and the anticipation seemed to make the hours move quickly. We left close to 1:00 p.m on Saturday and landed in Shanghai late in the day Sunday due to the time differential. As we arrived in the airport we were met by the guides that were to become friends as they days went on. They moved us onto tour buses using the group number that was on our red badge. I was with group A-2 and was to board buses and follow signs with my group number painted on them all through China. We boarded our buses and found who our traveling partners were to be. In many cases (except for brief encounters at lunch or dinner) that was the last we saw of some of our fellow Chamber members until we boarded the return flight.

We left the airport for Beijing and the beginning of an incredible journey. We were taken directly to dinner and were introduced to some of the native foods that were to become very familiar as the days passed. Meals were served family style and we chose the dishes we wished to taste by rotating a center Lazy Susan and helping ourselves to portions of at least eight or nine dishes at every meal. There seemed to be three degrees of reaction to the native dishes – some felt the foods offered were outstanding and commented that one could always find something that appealed to them in the selection, others found the food palatable, but were excited on those occasions where familiar dishes such as sweet and sour pork were served, and others basically didn’t eat anything more than rice and vegetables. The biggest adjustment for most was to having warm drinks (we were warned against having ice in our drinks) and the custom was to “cool” drinks slightly rather than serve them cold. The food, on the other hand, was often served cold. I doubt that his was the custom but rather a result of trying to serve six hundred people at a time for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Writer at the Great Wall

Each night the members of the Chamber tour stayed in three different hotels. My personal impression of the hotels assigned to our group was that they were magnificent! In speaking to Chamber travelers assigned to other hotels, I didn’t personally hear any negative comments about the accommodations. Apprehension about the quality of accommodations was the one thing I heard voiced most often prior to the tour and the one compliment I heard most often during the tour. I’d say the tour ranked an A+ in this particular category.

The first day of touring into Beijing set the tone for days to come. We were on the bus by 7:30 a.m. and on average did not return to our hotel until 7:30 or later in the evening. Twelve hour days of rigorous touring were more than some travelers had expected and as the days passed the schedule took its toll, many of the travelers fought colds and tempers grew a bit short. That being said, no one could argue that we were being treated to a most impressive tour of the country! On day one we climbed the Great Wall – an accomplishment that took our breath away (in more ways than one!) Why didn’t we realize that the Great Wall was built in steps? Makes sense when you think about it, but while many of us were expecting a leisurely walk along the top of this magnificent structure, what we got was a rigorous climb up (and down) thousands of steps, with one of two flat spots along the way. It was an amazing adventure and was topped off by observing, and cheering the efforts of many who had heart problems, hip and knee ailments and asthma, valiantly fighting (and winning) their quest to reach the top. It’s hard to explain, but each person seemed to have the feeling that this Wall was there and they just had to stand on top of it, whatever it took. The most valiant effort was captured in a tour video as we watched a 92 year-old man almost crawl up the steep steps in an effort to reach a platform where he could stand and see the Wall as it snaked over the mountains. His face was caught in a freeze frame in that video and will remain there, immortal, as the same man died of a heart attack on the plane during the journey home.

We saw architecture in palaces, pagodas, temples and gardens that was so intricate and so beautiful that it was almost impossible to believe that those who built the structures lived more than two thousand years ago! It becomes even more incomprehensible when we think that our own country had not even been discovered when these people were living in such opulence. Not that there were not contrasts, there were many. We also toured the Hutongs (Winding Alleys) by tricycle cart and joined local families for lunch in their homes. These homes are not so different from what we might see in Tijuana’s alleys and it isn’t likely that one would explore there mazes without the aid of a safely guided tour. The communist flag flew outside most doorways in the Hutong and reminded us that this country is only steps away from communist rule. Once inside, the homes and the people who owned them were warm and inviting. Through translators we enjoyed a lively conversation with the family we visited, including an enlightening lesson on their views of communism as a favored political position. When you heard it from their point of view, using their life experience as a reference point, you could see how it made sense to them. It was almost surreal, I was in China, a country where many people still favor communism, eating with a family and discussing one young man’s dream of proving himself worthy and being accepted into the “party.” This had to be the highlight of the trip in my eyes.

Speaking of eyes, the next day took us into the city of Suzhou. Our guide shared an old Chinese saying, “If celestial paradise is Heaven, then paradise on earth is the cities of Hangzhou and Suzhou.” I would have to agree in theory, but the terrible air pollution literally made it difficult to see the sights. We traveled to the Lingering Garden and the magnificent Tiger Hill, but the pollution made it seem like dusk even during the early morning. The bad air was so thick that you could literally taste it and many travelers experienced unpleasant reactions from very sore eyes to difficulty breathing. A heavy rain all day cleared the air a bit for the next day’s visit to Hangzhou where we visited Lingyin Temple and viewed a 64 foot Buddha and a shine that defies description. The magnificent sights, including the West Lake, the Lingering Garden and the glorious Buddha made the discomfort worthwhile and most of us agreed that despite air you could cut with a knife, we would have liked to have spent more time than was allotted exploring the region Chinese call Paradise on Earth.

A source of surprise to many of us on the trip was the size of the buildings comprising each city in China. Skyscrapers abound that make the skyline in New York City look like a miniature. Not only are the buildings tall, but they are incredibly beautiful, with shapes that defy explanation. Looking at the skyline in Shanghai from the Bund (a famous waterfront park) you see buildings that are elliptical, spheres, towers, poles with spheres perched on top and almost any combination of shapes that can be imagined have been built on the shores of the river. As you travel the footpaths in the inner city of Shanghai it is no less impressive from street level. Walking along the famous Nantung road, you cannot believe the advanced marketing that teases every sense. Neon is everywhere! It is on moving billboards, on miniature trains that move shoppers from one end of the street to the other and on the signage fronting every store. The sights and sounds are reminiscent of Las Vegas to the times 100 and they effectively lure sightseers and local shoppers inside to explore and spend. And we did! We spent at bazaars, bought from local street vendors (also reminiscent of Tijuana and very insistent at times,) parted with money in modern shopping centers and in government factories and stores. Commercialism is alive and growing in China and our group made a significant contribution.

The corporate pride at every level is extremely impressive. Uniforms (perhaps a holdover from the days of communism) are big in China and wearing one is obviously a source of pride to the wearers. You can see it on their faces and in the way they hold themselves. It seemed that all employees, in all walks of business wore uniforms. For example, a group of us wanted to enter a department store in Shanghai on the last morning we were there. We were standing outside the store when they opened for business. Because the item we wished to purchase was located on the 9th floor, we rode the escalator up to every floor, stepped off of it and walked through the departments to reach the “up” escalator on the other side. On every floor neatly uniformed employees, two or three in each department, stood in a formal line in front of their department waiting to assist customers. They were obviously very proud of their job and their contribution to the company. The customer service everywhere bears comment. The people were polite, well informed, helpful and available. The U.S. could take a lesson from the Chinese in how to train our service staff.

Every day was packed. At times, we agreed, too packed. We would have liked to have some free time to explore the cities, shop in the local stores and take a nap after days that averaged 5 mile walks. But on balance those were minor issues. The benefit of these long days is that we saw more of China in 8 days than one would ever think possible. We saw operas, attended banquets, strolled through famous gardens, took a boat cruise on West Lake, saw how silk was spun and woven into beautiful linens, how jade was cut, and pearls were harvested and that, (I swear it’s true) is only a small sampling of the experiences we enjoyed. I would truthfully have to write a book to aptly describe the entire trip.

We boarded the plane for home on Saturday, November 16 at 4:30 p.m. and arrived home on Saturday, November 16, at 1:30 p.m. Interesting to get home before you left, but that was no more surprising or magical than everything else in China. For most of us, the trip home was one we will never forget. The trip was turbulent and emotional. The tragedy of one family was shared by three hundred passengers as a doctor on board fought to revive the 92 year old man who only days before had climbed the Great Wall and now was slumped over with a heart attack. Despite all efforts, this man was called Home. A sad ending to a wonderful trip? Maybe and maybe not. This man died after completing a trip he had always dreamed of at an age where most men are ONLY dreaming and not doing.

Perhaps this holds a message for all of us - don’t dream, DO! The next Chamber trip to China is coming up in March. This trip surpassed most everyone’s expectations and created memories that will always be treasured. Make your own memories by booking your place on the next trip. Several people have already expressed an interest in booking again and (as those of you who were turned away this year know) space is limited. Keep an eye on the Chamber Magazine for upcoming details!

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