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The purpose of my trip was business, so I traveled to Chengdu with two of my counterparts from Nike China. So as a travel princess, I will admit it didn’t have that plush 5-star hotel thing that I’ve gotten used to, but I kind of just ignored the stained carpeting and generally musty interior of the Holiday Inn Chengdu.
Right off the bat I noticed how much more relaxed the people were compared to their countrymen from the North. While I was stared at; it wasn’t the judgmental death stare that I usually get when walking down a street, but rather an open curious stare with a slight smile. It’s like random strangers actually wanted me to say “nei ho” so they could say it back.
While touring some Nike stores it was refreshing to see young sales folks smiling, talking and slouching a bit; instead of the formal rather forced customer service I had come to expect.
Dinner was unbelievable – home of Hot Pot, Chengdu literally gave me two days of the best food I have ever eaten – my stomach only hurt a bit from the pound of chilis I managed to consume.
My highlight was the next morning when we took a trip to see the Pandas. The facility is a breeding and research facility, recently renovated and beautifully done. The grounds and panda enclosures were lovely. I have to say, donning a medical gown and latex gloves to hold a one year old cub was by far the coolest animal kingdom moment I’ve ever had.
After we went to suburban Chengdu I for the first time, saw a middle class China. It felt so American in the way the “back to school” ads and product were set-up, parents and their kids stood in line at the movie theatre to see Shrek the 3rd, and the mall parking lot was full of cars. It was something I just didn’t expect to encounter on the mainland yet.
We also stopped at Sichuan University to talk to some students playing Football and Basketball, and wandered through some hallways and classrooms. The facilities were so rough considering this is a premier university for the country. No frills at all. But I’m guessing far more dedicated and serious students than the typical American State College gets.
We wrapped up the trip as guests to a few high level executives form one of the biggest companies in China – men basically worth more than the combined working salary of my entire family tree - three generations back. Some of the IPO stories of companies in China are insane! For instance, this company was at $13 at IPO, within 8 months the stock was at $92. They took us to yet another amazing dinner and then to a bar called Lotus in Old Town. I can’t begin to count the number of vodka shots that were forced on me. It got so rough that I was sneaking tonic water into my shot glass. Regardless of what all of you dear folks are thinking – I really don’t drink that much anymore – it hurts too much! Gotta love getting older.
Needless to say, I will return and then continue West to see Tibet….
