What Industries should the Vancouver Pavilion Promote?

Vancouver is my current home town and I love it here. I am really happy to hear Vancouver have its own presents at the international event of the year - Shanghai Expo 2010. It probably doesn't have the crowd that the Canada Pavilion draws, but it is here to do business. Rumour has it, the pavilion is largely sponsored by the timber industry. No surprise there, aside from USA, China is becoming a huge timber consumer. They benefit the most from exposing itself to China.

But Vancouver not only has wood products, here are a few BC industries I wish were showcased at pavillion.

First, green technology. The pavilion does put focus on clean and green living (by building wood construction and use wood products). I really would like to see more focus. Vancouver recently was ranked one of the top 15 on the Mercer Eco-City index and 4th in Quality of Living Index. Vancouver has so many innovative small businesses that are dedicated to green technology. I participated in several business plan competitions in recent years in BC and the top prizes were always awarded to green business ideas. Obviously, we have so much to offer to China and the world. Trust me, China really needs it!!

Second, tourism. I don't think I have ever met anyone who does not love Vancouver after a visit (most, eventually move here). The mountain and the ocean are second to none. It is one of the few places in the world where you can ski in the mountains, windsurf in the ocean and play a round of golf all in the same day! Last winter, Canada and China finally agreed to proceed with the Approved Destination Status agreement. Chinese tourists will be give Vancouver tourism industry a huge boost in the coming years.

Third, booze! The Okanagan valley (5 hour drive outside of Vancouver) produces high quality wine and icewine. Drinking wine is a hot luxury trend in China right now.

Here is an article that talks about the Vancouver Pavillion in more detail.

What to buy when you are in China

China is a fantastic destination for shopping. It is the manufacturing capital of the world after all. You will arrive with an empty suitcase and leave with a shipping container! So much to buy, here is a very small list of must buys that are not only high quality, but also cheap.

1. Phone accessories. I got my iPhone cover at the pearl market in Beijing before I even got an iPhone. The cover quality was quite good. Especially, now I have dropped my iPhone at least 5 times so far. Best part, the hard cover costed me only 20RMB (3 CAD).

2. Socks and underwear. China makes over 3 billions pair of socks annually for Walmart and other retail giants. The socks are high quality and really cheap. Same goes for underwear.
3. Camera accessories. Memory cards, tripods, batteries and camera bags for sure. Don't bother buying lens or cameras since they cost approximately the same as in North America.

4. Silk and embroidery products. Silk is a no brainer. Labour is expensive in the west. Hand made embroidery is hard to find. Although a slowly dying art form in China, hand made embroidery is still plenty. You can even get your photo portrait embroidered.


5. Chinese water-colour paintings. I like to buy them. Because they are not only beautiful, but also very easy to transport. Just have to roll it up and unroll to hang on the wall. No framing required.

6. Prescription glasses and contacts. Yes, bring your precription and have your glasses made in China. I paid 350 RMB (54 CAD) for my frame and lens.

A final tip, be sure to brush up your negotiation skills before your trip.

Don't forget to join us on our next trip: China Shopping and Spa Extravaganza.

Getting Married in China

Ever thought about having your wedding in China? According to the World Tourism Organization, in 2020, China will overtake France to become the largest tourist country and the fourth largest for overseas travel. China’s romance lies in its mystical culture and the serenity of its natural beauty. Here are a few things you should know about having a wedding in China.

The majority of wedding ceremonies in China are civil ceremonies typically performed by an older and influential family member or close friend. They act as both a witness to the union and Master of Ceremonies. A religious wedding ceremony is uncommon in China, especially ones performed by figures such as a Christian priest or minister. Additionally, there is no such thing as a Buddhist wedding. Weddings in China are tied more to the culture than to any particular religion.

China has over 5000 years of history. Therefore, it is no surprise its tradition of thousands of years of vast imperial bureaucracies carry through to today! While having a wedding in China will certainly be the romantic experience of your lifetime, the process of obtaining a marriage license is no Vegas drive-thru Chapel experience (maybe that's a really good thing!). It is time consuming and expensive. There is a lot of paperwork with embassies and/or consulates involved and everything will need to be translated into Chinese.

It is highly recommended for couples who both hold foreign passports to legally marry in their home country, and hold a symbolic wedding ceremony in China only.

Fun Chinese Wedding Traditions you can incorporate into your special day:

• Incorporate the number “9” any way you can. The number “9“ in Chinese sounds like the word that means long lasting or long time. Therefore, the Chinese love to include anything with this number when planning a wedding.
• Conduct a tea ceremony for the couple to honor parents from both sides. It is also a chance for the parents to present the couple with presents or red envelopes of money.
• Use the colors of red and gold. Chinese brides traditionally wear these two colors on their wedding day and they are the predominant color for all things wedding related.
• The Bride and her friends can have a bit of fun at the groom’s expense. The groom’s party or representative(s) arrives at the bride’s house or hotel room to “acquire” the blushing bride. The bride’s friends will not ‘surrender ’the bride until they are satisfied by red envelops of money from the groom’s representative. The good-natured haggling and hijinks are a lot of fun before the wedding.

Previous related post: Want to have a unique destination wedding?

Do's and Don'ts in China

Do's in China

1. DO BE OPEN MINDED! Get ready for the culture shock of your lifetime! It is a good thing. This is why we travel to new places.

2. DO learn a little Chinese. While rumours have it that China has more English speakers than in the USA, majority of the population will not have a good gasp of the language.

3. DO eat every chance you get. Of course, that could sometimes do a number on your tummy. Take the Dukoral vaccine before you go.

4. DO brush up on your Chinese etiquette. For example, tipping is not common in China.

5. DO get comfortable with having your space invaded. 1.3 billion people is a lot of people!

6. DO learn the art of bargaining and negotiation. It is so much fun!

7. DO try to chat with the locals. You will be very pleasantly surprised with what you can learn.

8. DO be punctual. Being on time shows respect for others.

Don'ts in China

1. DON’T hug or kiss your Chinese friends when greeting them. A good hand shake is perfect.

2. DON’T make out in public. China is still conservative by western standard. Limit heavy PDA.

3. DON’T expect all public bathrooms to have toilet paper available. Always carry some of your own.

4. DON’T get upset when vendors become pushy. Just smile and politely decline if you are not interested in buying.

5. DON’T think people staring at you as hostile. Most of the looks are out of curiosity.

6. DON’T expect the Chinese food to taste the same as it does in your home country. Don’t expect a fortune cookie at the end of your dinner either.

7. DON’T comment negatively about the Chinese Communist Party.

8. DON’T start touchy conversation topics such as Taiwan or Tibet independence and avoid overly praising Japan.

Chinese Foot Massage

One of my favourite things to do while in China is getting a foot massage, especially at the end of a long day. The masseuse will first bring a small wooden basin filled with herbs and really hot (almost boiling) water to soak your feet in. After your toes are warm and soft, your body will feel really relaxed too. Finally, the masseuse will go to town on your feet! It is the best feeling ever. Most spa places I have been to, foot massages also include a 15 minute shoulders and arms massage at the end. I call that icing on the cake!

The Chinese believes there are many important pressure points on your feet. Massaging particular points can benefit your various body parts like kidney, liver and etc. Taking care of your feet is very important.

There are many foot massage spas in every city of China. From the basic local ma-and-pa shops that charge 40RMB (6 CAD) for 1 hour to the luxury spas that charge 300RMB (46 CAD), you can find a spa in any price range. My personal preference is sticking to more medical format massages which the masseuse has excellent experience in Chinese medicine or is a Chinese medicine doctor (CMD). CMDs have to learn all of the pressure points on the body as one of their basic studies, so naturally, they make very a good masseuse.

Next time you are in China, you must treat your feet with a heavenly foot massage. The only problem is you might get addicted.

Don't forget to check out Ruby Roads' upcoming Shopping and Spa Extravaganza which you will receive two complimentary foot massages while on the trip.