It’s crazy how many great blogposts about China I’ll be able to post about – as you know I’ve been to China with Huawei in China. Yes for real, I was in China and I can’t really blieve that I was invited to this wonderful trip. Thank you verymuch to the team of Huawei! I wouldn’t have thought that this trip would be so wonderful. It was really fascinating, breathtaking and inspiring. Thank you so much ♥

Since a trip to China is something really special and the planning as well as the trip takes a lot of organising, I will post a lot about it in the next days. I think it will be interesting for some of you and who doesn’T dream of visiting the great wall of China once?

In this blogpost I want’ to. give you an insight to this whole trip. It seemed that you liked my last Travel Diary from France and that’s why I decided for a Summary-Post. You can ask all your questions in the comments below, I will add the answers in the next blogposts. I’ll try not to make this blogpost too big. I accompanied the Team of Huawei Austria – Catharina and Adis and four other people – Florian, Barbara, Katharina and Michi for 8 days.

Disclaimer: Werbedisclaimer: Thank you very much to the team of Huawei Austria for this wonderful time and all the great impressions! The opinion stated in this blogpost is 100% my own.  

The republic of China – circa 1,4 billion people live on the an area as big as Europe or the USA. You have to imagine this. You can’t? No problem, I wasn’t able to. Up to the moment I saw it on my own eyes. The size, all the people, the city with all the high buildings. It was like in a Science-Fiction-Film. Peking was different – – completely different. So traditional and old but still charming and welcoming.

After a direct flight from Vienna to Peking we had a really tough program. Luckily I was able to sleep very well in the plane and I was able to look forward to the new country and the program. In China it’s really an advantage to travel around with a guide. There are so many things to think about when in China, the language barrier is the least problem. I will write a separate blogpost about this.

Our guides welcomed us at the airport with coffee and drove us to the hotel. After a fast and easy Check-In and a short refreshing shower we proceeded to the city – to the forbidden city. The forbidden city is in the middle of Peking. The chinese emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties used to live and reign here until the revolution in 1911. The UNESCO declared this place a world cultural heritage in 1987. The forbidden city is one of the most known attractions in Peking and thousands of tourists visit it daily. The main entrance to the forbidden city is the Gate of Heavenly Peace.

We proceeded to the next activity – the traditional quarter of Peking – Hutong. We were allowed to take a look into a typical chinese house and talk to the owner. Up to 8 people live in 40 square meters. There are no bathrooms. The WC and the shower is a few blocks away and everyone can use them. Unbelievable. The owner of the house which we were able to meet, was around 90 years old and told us, the she was living here her whole life. It’s the seventh generation of her family living in this house. This is very unusual for chinese law. In every other parts of China you can only own a property for 70 years. This doesn’t apple to the old town.

After an additional Rikscha-Drive through the quarter and after a long day of Sightseeing, it was time for a really yummy chinese dinner. And to fit in – we had Peking Duck. At Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant we learned a lot from the owner about this national dish. I though it was really exciting – if you order a duck, you will get your own chef, who will cut the duck for you.

Picture1: Waterditch around the forbidden city – Tongzi Moat // Picture2: Fisherman in the forbidden city // Picture3: Rikscha-Driver // Picture4: Beat the Heat. . Street vendor all around Peking // Picture5: Juls in the forbidden city in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony // Picture6: Typical housing complex in China – Air Cond‘ is important // Picture7: Carved Duck at Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant // Picture8: Own chef that carves your duck // Picture9:  Pretty Table Cover 

On the second day we wanted to fly to Shanghai but our flight was cancelled. Our Guides told us about the unstable situation of the domestic flights in China. Too many people and to many airplanes and a lot of Chaos in air as well as and land. That’s why we changed to Plan B: High Speed Train Ride to Shanghai!

I have to admit, using the train was much better than flying even though it took more time. The comfort in the train was great. We had really big and comfy seats and we were able to chat a little as well as sleeping a little. The High Speed Train was around 300 Kilometers per hours fast and it took about about 5 hours for 1.500 Kilometers to Shanghai. A flight would take 2 hours and 20 Minutes.

Before leaving for Shanghai there was a great activity! The Great Wall of China! The time has finally come. I was really at the great wall of China! Even when writing about it – it’s unbelievable. I can’t believe that I’ve been there. After the very exhausting hike to the wall, I had sweat on my forehead and tears in my eyes. I was really on the great wall of china.

„The Great Wall“ is 21.196,18 Kilometer long and has 43.721 sites to visit. Can you believe this? This attraction is one of the 7 world wonders. Even if it’s very touristy – it’s indescribeable. I can’t find the words for it, how fascinating this was for me. Everyone coming to Peking has to see this historical building.

Pictures: wonderful impressions of the great wall – the unbelievable chinese Wall

When arriving late at night in Shanghai I just fell into my bed. It was a long trip. The next attraction we planned to visit: The Shanghai Tower! Since it was finished in August 2014 it was the highest building in China and the second highest on earth right after Burj Khalifa in Dubai (828 Meters). The highest viewing point in the 121. floor at 561 Meters is higher than at Burj Khalifa (555,70 Meter)!!

The view up there is really hard to describe. The visit in this tower was a really great experience for me. I was really excited of Shanghai and now we aimed high. From the outside the tower really looked huge and exciting. I was lost for words – and a lot of people who know me wouldn’t believe this.

A really stupid mistake happened to me. I am so angry about myself. But what happened, happened. I forgot my camera in the bus and I didn’t have the chance to take cool pictures all day! I’m such an idiot! I can only show you a couple pictures that I took with my phone. I can’t even tell you how angry I was. Such a mistake won’t happen to me again.

Our second activity in Shanghai was the R&D Center of Huawei in Shanghai. The building, in which the Design-Team is working in, is one kilometer big (!!) and is surrounded by a beautiful idyllic park. While our stay we didn’t see any of the 10.000 employees in the park. If you think that the chinese are working all day long without getting out of the office – that’s wrong! Diligence and discipline are the base of chinese success, but the employees – as far as I saw – were treated pretty well. You can find more below. Just proceed.

In this huge building we were instructed about all the Innovations by Huawei. We also saw some drafts about how important this technology will become for Huawei. I was really impressed and I found some cool Gadgets that I will show you here on the blog :-) But you still have to wait.

Picture1: The view from Shanghai Tower 500m above // Picture2: Juls in Shanghai in front of all the high buildings // Picture3: + Picture4: Yummy Dumplings

Since our flight from Peking to Shanghai was cancelled and we had to take the train, there was not much time in Shanghai – we had to little time, because what I saw was what I liked most and I will really come back here to see much more of this incredible city. After one day we proceeded to Shenzhen. The highlight of our Tech-Trip. In Shenzhen is the central, the HQ of Huawei!!

I couldn’t believe it, when Catharina and our Guide Tony told me, that Shenzhen didn’t really exist 30 years ago. No other city grows as fast as this one. Last known digits: Around 13 Million inhabitants! Within three decades this city grew from a little fishing village into a special economic zone! It wasn’t for nothing that Huawei settled down here. The pillars of economy in Shenzhen are the entertainment – and telecommunication industry. You can find tons ot shops, malls and service providers in this city – they can assemble everything you wish for which revolves aroung electronics. It doesn’t matter it smartphone, MP3-Players, Laptop.

It was time for us to visit the Campus of Huawei! The chinese Huawei-Group grows as fast as the city of Shenzhen and no other Smartphone-Producer can keep up. The drive to the two squarekilometers big campus which is outside of the town was already incredible. We were able to see the main building from far away. After entering the entrance and when we arrived at the production facility we heard the words: “Taking pictures in the facility is forbidden.” But I can tell you onw thing. Humans and machines are working here together.

And because I get asked all the time – you pronounce it like this: Wah-Way

I realized very quickly, that they are focussing on high quality. After every working step, they’d control the quality. Every product has to go through an hourlong stresstest. Let’s be honest, if western people hear „Made in China“, they tend to think about cheap products. This was the meaning of this trip – to show us otherwise.

I was really surprised about the working conditions on the campus. Enabling the employees to use their Biorhythm is very important for the employers as well. Everyone knows, only if body and mind are fit, healthy and awake, that an employee will be able to work fully concentrated and efficient. Napping is normal in China. And I’m really honest with you, even when this method sounds weird. I think it’s much better to Powernap than to have coffee or energydrinks to get through the day.

Also safety at work at least at Huawei – is different than expected from China. The hall we visited also had a 5-Star Award. The best Award about safety at work that you can get in China. I’m sure that the working conditions are part of Huaweis success. As already mentiones, there’s no other producer that grows so fast. The employees are motivated visually and through review conversations.

Picture1: In the HQ of Huawei in front of the big pond in the park // Picture2: In the streetshops of Shenzhen – you can find a lot of electronic devices being put together here 

In the end we travelled to the border to Hong Kong. Next to classics like the Victoria Peak and a boattour in the Victoria Bay we also visited one of the best Rooftop Bars and a incredibly good Steak Restaurant at Wan Chai Outlet Shoppingtower. We also planned a whole day for the Ladies Market and Shopping eingeplant.Yay! As great as the program was, I was really looking forward to this day off to chill out and take a lot of pictures.

Flo and I were stopped on the street to get interviewed by Hong Kong Television. We’re both very tall – that’s why we attracted peoples attention. We were really happy about it. Unfortunately the reporters didn’t send us a link. I would have been happy to read about it or watch the video :) I didn’t really shop that much because I wanted to concentrate about the surroundings. There was so much to take pictures of.

I think, I fancied a lot about China and you were able to get an insight about this trip. It’s really hard to write down all the emotions and experiences. I hope that some of my readers also saw my Instagram Story. It was a great week in which I was able to learn a lot about Huawei, the people and were I was able to friend new friends. Again thank you very much to Huawei for all the wonderful moments and experiences! You made it possible ♥

Picture1: Victoria Peak // Picture2 + Picture3: Boattour through Victoria Bay // Picture4: The view from the hotel! Gigantic! Picture5: Dead tired & Happy at Ladies Market in Hong Kong // Picture6 + Picture7: Pepole of Hong Kong // Picture8 + Picture9: Our yummy dessert at WoolooMooloo Steak Restaurant // Picture10: The 2kg Steak – YUM! // Picture11 + Picture12: Hong Kong Island