Ningbo

The fast train to Ningbo left at 8 am. I decided to take a taxi and forgo the Metro. I realised I had seen the underground of Shanghai but not much of the Streetscape.

A quick coffee, bacon and eggs, the western food option for breakfast.

A hair raising 35 min taxi ride through the Shanghai smog. I had not fully realised the size of the city, apartment block after apartment block for the entire trip. The trip was mostly on massive freeways, with upper and lower lane ways.

The fast train took 2 hours, and we arrived in Ningbo. The purpose was a factory tour. Daisy and I were met by the factory driver at the train station. 

A few snaps from the window of the train

Ningbo is on 3 rivers in the Yangtze River Delta.

The train station forecourt in Ningbo

The factory was very interesting, we had a long discussion in the showroom meeting room. Daisy acting as interpretor. This was followed by a full tour of their facilities and workshops. I won't go into detail on the product, but a great insight.

The factory was opened in 1998 and the President (owner) and the Factory Manager had both had the opportunity for tertiary education, following the Cultural Revolution. This was at the end of the 70s early 80s

Apparently they were the first wave afforded this opportunity, it was impressed on me by Daisy that this was very significant.

The owner called himself a designer and had studied engineering. The quality and pride of the product was outstanding, and not just a regular copy form of manufacturing. Daisy remarked later that is one of the best organised, cleanest and professional factory that she had ever visited. The workers had impressive facilities. I have no benchmark, being the only factory I have seen in China.

Daisy and I were then taken out to lunch, to taste the local cuisine. 3 types of fish, fresh water and ocean, Chili rice,  Then driven to the airport to catch our flight to Guangzhou.