China has emerged as the one the most efficient country in terms of production of goods and services. All major multinationals like GE and Ford have set up their production base in China. The labor efficiency adds to the cost effectiveness’ have seen China development through years and it has transformed from being an over populated country to a manufacturing super power. I live in Lu’an a city in Anhui province in China. It’s a small city with tea plantations as its major occupation. My family owns tea gardens and leases them on a yearly basis to agents. I decided to do something different when the economy was experiencing a boom in the manufacturing sector. I run a factory that produces customized packaging gift boxes for premium green and melon seed tea. The gift boxes are made of wood with carvings and steel boxes for bigger packaging.
My family consists of my wife, my son and my parents. My son plans to go to Hong Kong for higher studies. Lu’an is beautiful city with breathtaking tea gardens and amazing hills. Tiantang Zhai (Stocked Village of Paradise) in Lu’an is a traveler’s favorite as it is one of the last virgin forests in east China. My typical day starts in the morning by six as most of the tea garden owner’s supply the fresh tea leaves to my factory for packaging early in the morning. I check the availability of wood and tin for packaging to avoid any delay in order delivery. The afternoons continue with the hustle bustle of traders enquiring for their orders. I have employed many artists who carve on wood, an ancient Chinese art. By five in evening the factory workers call it a day. Post five I spend my time with my family and going for walks.
Answer1: Our meals consist of boiled rice, vegetables and fish. Breakfast is usually light as it comprises of Dajiujia rice-flour pastry a famous Lu’an delicacy with Wanxi Green tea. Green tea acts as an antioxidant, good for health. Lunch is decided by my son who loves having noodles. Dinner is Gong Bao Chicken or Ma Po Tofu with rice.
Answer2: Lu’an has small local grocery shops selling mainly the locally grown products. For better variety and international brands one has to take a train to Hefei. Articles for daily use are available in Lu’an but for electronic products we prefer to go to a bigger city nearby for better variety.
Answer 3: For entertainment is go for long walks to the tea gardens. Lu’an is a very scenic place full of natural beauty. My family is very adventurous and loves visiting the forest nearby on weekends. We frequently visit the Plunging Waterfall and Dragon Pool for fun activities that my son loves. For movies and malls we go every month to the Hefei city as it is an hour’s drive from Lu’an.
Answer 4: My greatest worry is an international firm setting up a tea packaging factory nearby with latest machinery and technology. I worry that this will affect my business as I am functioning with machinery that I bought ten years back. The traditional carvings on the boxes have been taken over the digital designs. This can render my workers especially the artists jobless. I need to update my factory by using new packaging technology and offer the best Wanxi green tea to the world.
References
- Travel China Guide. (1999-2014). Lu'an Travel Guide. Retrieved From
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/anhui/luan/#say
- Luan City. (2014). Anhui Provincial Tourism Administration. Retrieved from
http://www.anhui.travel/en/destination/html/city_14.html
