Upon arrival at HK International Airport, I rode a train going to IFC to meet Victor in HK-Macua pier. We took an hour ferry ride to Zhuhai. It’s cool in Zhuhai, about 15degrees. Upon arrival, we were pickup by a company car to Jesmay’s compound.
The manufacturing compound is a little bigger than whole PASCOR compound. Jesmay manufactures surveillance cameras, DVR (Digital Video Recorder), HDMI cables, and others.
After lunch at McDonalds, Victor and his team immediately gave me a detailed and step-by-step on their latest PRO edition of DVR. We spend a hefty amount of time with the functionality and features.
Victor and his team treated me to a chinese restaurant and serve steamed chicken and a white wine with 52% alcohol content!. After that we go to a Videoke bar where another round of wine was served. Victor’s team are very accommodating and are a good company. We shared laughter even though we barely understand each other.
On my second day, we spent exploring the functions and features of Home edition DVR. Home edition is really designed for small surveillance setup with 20 or less camera. In my opinion, if the cost difference between PRO and Home edition is not that significant, I would go the PRO edition.
I stayed one day and one night Zhuhai. This is a major manufacturing area. Air and water is very polluted. The streets are only busy during early morning an late afternoon, this is where people go and leave the factories. Zhuhai is in border with Macau.
In the afternoon, Victor and I parted ways. He rides back to Hongkong, while I’m going to Shenzhen via a ferry. It was more than an hour ride alone. Upon arrival, I got a cab and showed the hotel’s chinese character name (which Eva earlier sent me) to the driver and he immediately knows what I want.
The day after (Friday) was my busies day. I met with our consolidator and discuss their issues/comments with their dealing with BHI-China. In summary, she said that it would be easier if we could give them advance data on what, when and where to pickup. I’ve learned that consolidators are the ones who pickup our orders from different factories. Initially, I thought that the factories/suppliers are the one that delivers the items to our consolidators. This is not the case. It would also help them speed up the process if we can only specify items to pickup that would fill the container size that we ordered. Because sometimes it happens that CBM of the items to pickup does not match container. It’s either over or under capacity.
In the afternoon, I met this guy who sells chassis. He is located in Chiwan port area (Western side of Shenzhen). Along the road, hills are being flattened to make way for future developments. Upon arrival at his yard, he showed me his 3 available for sale chassis units. He said he can find more chassis if needed. According to him, there is a move in government that most old chassis will be phase out by July this year, so there would be a lot of available 2nd hand chassis available. The guy is only 26 y/o and owns a fleet of 50+ truck heads!
On Saturday, Tiki (our consolidator) accompanied me Windows of the World. It’s a themed park in central Shenzhen. We spend almost the whole day talking about chinese history and culture.
On Sunday, she accompanied me to another themed park in Yantian district.
I met another chassis supplier on Monday in Yantian district, he also showed me his stock of brand new (or what looks like a brand-new) tires. This guy showed several chassis that are parked just right besides the street of a compound near a shipyard. I think his chassis are sub-standard compared to what we have here in the Philippines. I liked the chinese tea he offered.
I have no other plans for my remaining days. What I did was strolled the city and observed the people. Its cold in Shenzhen, slightly cooler than in Baguio. The streets are clean (so far to the places i have been) and people are quite obedient on traffic rules. Noodles is the primary breakfast for the chinese people. Its easier to travel in Shenzhen than in Zhuhai. The street signs almost always have english/pinyin name right besides the chinese name. Shenzhen’s metro train is one of the world’s best in terms of efficiency and ease of use. Its also the cheapest way to go around the city. The only downside is that its an underground train rails. So no outside view of the city. Waterways are also clean. No plastic garbage that we are use to here.
I have walked the street where they showcase all electronics products. Anything electronics that you need are there. From LED lights to iPad (both fake and original) to children’s toys. China is far beyond our reach when it comes to manufacturing capabilities. Product prices are cheap and so are the labor.
There have always been an impression that if its made in China, it is of low quality. I think this is an incorrect impression. Take note that Apple Inc. products are made in China and yet it has excellent quality products. When you want chinese factories to produce the product the you want (including quality and standards), you have to explicitly specify it! This of course increases item costs. They will not assume what are the things that you want. You have to be specific as possible.
I have also experienced on how to bargain with the prices of buying goods. When asking for the item’s price, just point to it and say “Duoshao qian? or How much?”, the sales lady type in the calculator the price and show it to you. I usually type half the price and hand it back to the seller. The seller will then gives a gesture of dis-agreement. Slowly leave the place and pretend to look away. Then wait till the seller calls you back and give the item at your price. This works for me 80% of the time!
Relatively, chinese people loves spicy foods. Be careful when they offer you spicy. When they say its “spicy”, it is really spicy! By the way – dog meat is legal in China!
Chinese currency is called RMB short for Renminbi, literally means “people’s money”. One yuan (equivalent of “piso” in our language) is roughly equals to 6.3 Philippine Peso. Food in Shenzhen range from 30 to 60 yuan. A one litre bottle of water is 4 yuan. Ride in Metro train is 5-7 yuan.
Hotel in Shenzhen cost around 180 yuan a night! So if you want to stay there for a month, it would be cheaper to get a 600/month small flat.
There are a lot of available ATM that dispenses local currencies. It is a MUST that you have a credit card or debit card that works with VISA or MasterCard. My UnionBank Visa works with HSBC’s ATMs. I think BDO’s MasterCard will also work.
Overall, I think chinese people are easy to deal with. I’ve noticed that they are patient enough to understand what i meant and what i needed. It would really be a big advantage if you know mandarin (thats their official national language).
-Sherwin
to use the facility.
in the past couple of months, IT security experts have been tracking the propagation of a computer worm nicknamed “conficker”. Some says it originated from russia while others claimed from china.
one of the many hidden beauties of mt. makiling.
The parents of five-year-old 
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