Back from Hefei today after three days away. The adventure began on Wednesday afternoon. Took a taxi to Wan Chai, coach from Wan Chai to Shenzhen and then on to Shenzen Airport. Once you cross the border into China it feels like a different country and it follows that Shenzen Airport was no match for Hong Kong’s airport. Had some OK noodles before catching the Shenzhen Air flight as I was advised to avoid the food on board the plane. The flight was OK with the odd smattering of white people all looking edgy and out of place (myself included). Once landed we were met by a driver and and there then followed a two hour drive to our eventual destination – Huainan.
Arriving at the supposed “5 Star” hotel late we quickly had dinner. A selection of cold dishes contravening every food health standard were arranged in an large stinking room and the deal was that we had to pick the ones we wanted. Some would be cooked others were served as they were which was cold. Out of this area, past the dirty kitchen, rancid toilets and into the restaurant room we walked. The whole place stunk of dirty food if you can imagine such a thing. The service was awful but I expected no different as these third tier cities are all the same. Not a criticism as it will take time for the Chinese to adopt the western systems now being thrust upon them after years of Communism. Huainan itself is pretty unremarkable and appears to be a small city enclosed by a ring of smoke belching factories. The next day we were up early for series of meetings and then a tour around town. Some people live in conditions that are very poor and there is a feel of Developing Country to certain areas of China. Later that evening back to the hotel as there was nowhere else to eat. Up again early and then the flight back to Shenzhen then the train to Kowloon Tong and home at 10pm exhausted but happy.
All in all an tiring but enjoyable trip. Now I’ve been to China a few times I find myself warming to it a lot. The Chinese have spirit and strength and, amazingly, over 4000 years of history. Chew on that America. The key to China is the language and now I am beggining to learn a few words there becomes a link between me, from Essex, and them, from the whole of China. I think China will change beyond all recognition in the few decades and will be, along with Japan and a unified Korea, perhaps the most powerful countries on earth casting aside the US and European dominance. If they were would things be any worse than they are now?