Shenzhen III, China (Summer 2010)

Alas my summer position came to a close, and back to Canada I went. Actually living in Shenzhen gave me the chance to really get to know the city as opposed to my previous visits.  It's a complicated city that is roughly double the population of Hong Kong. Mainland Chinese, Taiwanese and Hong Kongese alike have sought to make their fortunes there, and one must keep in mind that 30 years ago, Shenzhen was hardly more than a fishing village. It's no surprise then as to why Shenzhen is the way it is. It has its positive and negative aspects - the food is fantastic, the scenery nice, and the climate not too bad, however the raw capitalism and commoditization of people is sometimes downright demoralizing and depressing. Bottom line - if you're looking for culture in the 'New China', go to Beijing. If you're looking for sophistication, go to Shanghai. If you're looking for the Chinese equivalent of Las Vegas, you've found it in Shenzhen.

OCT East/东部华侨城 (08/09/2010-08/10/2010)

About 30 minutes outside of Shenzhen there exists a rather odd place called Overseas Chinese Town East. Developed as a domestic tourism resort it encompasses nature reserves, a golf course, amusement park, tea gardens, and get this - a 1:1 reproduction of Interlaken, Switzerland.  It was quite weird to see the Chinese impression of Europe embodied by this park. Also, what was with the bagpipe players in a supposed Swiss town? :)

Other highlights included; a huge outdoor spa with 'flavoured' pools of fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, red wine, coffee, lavender, and tea; an Aztec-themed amusement park (which was closed); a huge cable car ride; and luxury hotels with various fantasy and futuristic themes.

It was a wonderful 2-day trip, made affordable through online travel agencies (4-star hotels start from US$1000+/night if you just show up). Despite that sticker shock the place is quite accessible - we got there through public transit (and were probably in the minority there), and there are more affordable options for camping, and group lodging. Entry ticket fees were also modest - so this was not a place just for the 'elite' of China.  

Jinggang Mountain/井冈山 (06/11/2010-06/13/2010)

I had the fortune to go to Jinggangshan as part of a company retreat to reflect upon Mao's strategy (seemingly ironically, but not so) when applied to investments. Why? It's considered to the birthplace of the Chinese Red Army, and was, in a way. its last stand following the failure of the Autumn Harvest Uprising. What began with 1000 exhausted soldiers, concluded with the China we see today.

History aside, it was also a beautiful nature reserve with numerous trails winding along mountain passes. I had a rare chance to breathe fresh air, free from industrial pollution, and to truly enjoy nature for the weekend.  The museums were informative, but sadly I couldn't understand most of the exhibits. This area really was catered for domestic tourists and I think I maybe saw one or two other foreigners the entire weekend (and it was pretty crowded in the neighbouring towns).  After seeing places such as Guilin, Pingyao, Luoyang, and now here, I wonder how many more hidden gems there are scattered in this vast country.