Five Things China 002: Meeting Dashan (Mark Rowswell) | Wang Chuanfu (BYD Founder) Speech | Guangzhou Metro Personal Ads | Visa-Free Entry Into China
Thing 1 - Meeting Dashan (Mark Rowswell)
Although it’s in November, it does feel like coming to the year-end already! Many Chambers of Commerce in Beijing have rolled out their annual gala dinner. I attended the Canada-China Business Council (CCBC) annual gala dinner in Beijing on 15 November.
A highlight for me was meeting and chatting with Dashan (Mark Rowswell), often referred to as "the most famous foreigner in China” (for my age, I know!). Born in Canada, he began studying Chinese in the mid-1980s and became a household name through his performances in Xiangsheng (Chinese comedic dialogue). In case you haven’t heard of him, here is a YouTube link: China Unknown: Just Kidding! - YouTube
Dashan gave a keynote speech at the dinner in Chinese. His humor was as sharp as ever, and his years of experience provided unique insights. The Chinese attendees at our table remarked that his Chinese pronunciation and literary flair surpass those of 90% of Chinese people.
And of course, my photo with him!
Thing 2 - Wang Chuanfu (BYD Founder) Speech
I recently read a fascinating speech by Wang Chuanfu at BYD's 30th anniversary celebration, marking both the company's milestone and their 10 millionth new energy vehicle. The speech reveals BYD's remarkable journey from a small battery maker to a global EV giant, driven by what Wang calls "The Engineer's Soul" of daring to innovate.
Here I share three quotes I take from Wang's speech.
"Even if we lost all our assets - factories, patents, stocks - as long as we have our engineers, we can always rise again."
「即便我们所有财产，包括厂房、专利、股票全部消失，只要工程师还在，就随时可以东山再起」
"Spending money on R&D isn't burning cash - it's saving for the future."
「在研发上敢砸钱，这不是烧钱，而是在存钱」
"Making a choice is easy, but persevering when you've given everything and still see no results - that's what's truly difficult."
「做一个选择很容易，但当你为了这个选择拼尽全力，都等不来结果，却还能咬牙坚持，这才是真正的不容易」
The whole speech is quite long but very interesting.
Here is a news report in English about Wang's speech: Full charge ahead: How BYD went from underdog to a champion in 30 years - SHINE News
(Source of full speech in Chinese: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/EjDFO5QRxVWUuUbKjACNMQ)
Thing 3 - Three Chinese Quotes
OK! More quotes! This time from ancient China.
"Isn't it a joy to learn and practice constantly?
Isn't it delightful when friends come from afar?
Isn't it noble to remain untroubled when others fail to understand?"
学而时习之，不亦说乎？
有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎？
人不知而不愠，不亦君子乎？
~ Confucius, The Analects (translated by James Legge, adapted)
-~-
"Know yourself and know your enemy,
And you will never be imperiled in a hundred battles."
知己知彼，百战不殆
~ Sun Tzu, The Art of War (translated by Lionel Giles)
-~-
"An inch of time is worth an inch of gold,
But an inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time."
一寸光阴一寸金，
寸金难买寸光阴。
~ Chinese Proverb
Thing 4 - Guangzhou Metro Personal Ads
I recently came across an intriguing development in Guangzhou's metro system, where they've started allowing individuals to purchase advertising space for personal messages. Since January 2024, the metro has been transformed into a fascinating canvas of personal expression, featuring everything from job-hunting resumes and dating profiles to birthday wishes, with prices ranging from just CNY 380 to 999 ($53-$140) for a five-day display.
One of the early adopters, Xiang Yaohan, made headlines when he posted his job-hunting resume at Zhujiang New Town Station's B1 exit. His 999-yuan gamble paid off spectacularly - his WeChat account was flooded with connection requests, and more than 50 companies reached out with potential opportunities.
The title of his job hunting ad: Finding a job and finding a partner are both challenging endeavors.
Similarly, a woman surnamed Wu surprised her introverted husband with a birthday message at Tianhe Park Station, creating a memorable moment for her family despite her husband's shy reluctance to linger too long in front of his own advertisement.
Beyond birthday wishes and job-hunting posts, dating ads have also found their place in Guangzhou's metro advertising spaces. Mr. Gary Li, born after 2000, shared his experience of placing a personal dating advertisement at Huacheng Plaza metro station on social media. In his video, he expressed that while the action might seem unusual, he had no regrets about doing it.
The title of his dating ad: Gen-Z's search for a soulmate.
While some users are genuinely seeking jobs or love, others are using the platform more creatively - including a social media influencer who recreated the iconic "Better Call Saul" poster at Tiyu Xilu Station, demonstrating how this new advertising channel is becoming a unique intersection of personal expression and public space in urban China.
Thing 5 - Visa Free Entry into China
The last thing is short but can be useful. I met a UK patent attorney at Grand Hyatt Beijing early this month and noticed many foreigners in the lobby. I am glad that foreign visitors have increased notably, partly thanks to China's visa-free policy.
Here is the full list of 40 countries that can stay visa-free in China for 30 days, as of November 2024.
Ordinary passport holders from the following countries may?enter China visa-free?for 30 days?for business, tourism, family visit, exchange and transit purposes.
Europe:
Asia:
Oceania:
China is continuously expanding its visa-free entry policy, so you can check this authoritative website for up-to-date information.
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