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The McColl Graduate School of Business Asian Study Tour delegation arrived in Beijing late Wednesday evening after the short four-hour hop from Tokyo. It was obvious from the moment we walked off the plane that we were not in Japan anymore!
The Chinese appear more laid back than their Japanese counterparts and the pollution is so thick you can cut it with a knife. On the bus ride from the airport we heard songs from our tour guide, Ivy, and discovered that Beijing looks like one huge building site.
Thursday morning Diane McGowan presented her perspective on the Chinese leaders Chiang, Mao, Zhou, Deng and the Long March and how they shaped China. Marc Wonojwich then presented the Great Leap and the Cultural Revolution articulating two more critical events in recent Chinese history. Our first official visit in China was to the American Embassy to meet with the consult staff for a briefing on the Chinese economy. Although the economy has been growing at 8% or better for over 20 years there are some concerns about the Chinese banking system, unemployment and the dispute with Taiwan about reunification.
Our next visit was to the Delico garment factory a bright modern facility on the outskirts of Beijing. The factory employs 500 people paying them approximately $90 per month to produce 30,000 to 50,000 pieces a month. The factory specializes in producing ski ware with all of the factory's production being shipped to Europe.
We traveled back in to Beijing to meet with Mr. Yang, the Director of the Division of Policy and Planning, Chinese Department of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, National Development and Reform Commission. Mr. Yang explained China's push to grow small businesses to replace the large state owner enterprises.
The final meeting of the day was with Clara Martinez's friend David Westendorff, a contract urban planner, professor and China affairs expert.
On the second day in Beijing, perspectives included: Sherry Ferguson discussed the Tiananmen Square Incident, Brian Adams presented current China leaders Zhao Ziyang, Hu Jintao, and Wen Jiabao, and Keith King gave his perspective on the current banking issues facing China. We also heard from Ted Revas and Frank Feng, who discussed doing business in China as a small businessman.
Our tours for the day were to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, both of which were very impressive in their sizes and histories. We attended a Cultural Exchange Banquet hosted by Mr. Gao of the China Association for International Friendly Contact.
The final "unofficial tour" destination was Durty Nelly's for singing, dancing and getting thoroughly soaked in the mist.
Saturday began early as the group boarded the bus headed for the Great Wall. While we fought Beijing rush hour traffic Scott Stover discussed Corruption in China, Mary Riley presented China and Taiwan, Adam Birk covered the Falun Gong, Brian Stanton walked us through China and the WTO, Cindy Merchant shared with us the Economic Impact of SARS and Clara Martinez revisited Political Freedoms. Ivy and Peter, our tour guides, also gave us their perspectives on a number of the topics presented by the previous speakers.
The great wall was indeed GREAT as it stretched off into the distance going up and down mountains. We were all surprised at just how many Chinese tourists were also visiting the wall and Ivy informed us that it is viewed as a national treasure. We at lunch at the government sponsored Friendship Store which combined food with the opportunity to purchase pearls, jade, cloisonné and paper cuttings.
We ended day with a visit to the Hong Qiao market where you can buy absolutely anything and haggling is an expected part of the colorful experience. The delegation returned to the hotel with just enough time for a quick dinner and a trip to the Beijing Night Market to see people cooking (and eating!) scorpions, snakes and slugs. Tomorrow we're up bright and early to fly to Hong Kong, the traditional Gateway to the Orient.
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