After work is done for the day, I have several hours to myself for exploration of Shanghai. This is the future site of Expo 2010, a major international exposition in the tradition of the grand World Fair’s. It is something of a coming out party for Shanghai and the city is a buzz with preparation and construction everywhere. This photo taken through the window of a moving car was as close as I could get.
Our production line is staffed primarily by young women who constitute the vast majority of labor in the consumer electronics manufacturing industry. Although the work is highly repetitive in nature, the skills required are quite sophisticated and the working conditions are very good. Our factory employs 12,000 people at this location. To put this in context the town of Concord has something like 15,000 residents. I spend several hours watching each one of our products being assembled and tested from start to finish.
We are treated to another wonderful meal, this time at a traditional Chinese restaurant. This evening we are joined by the full compliment of General Managers from Inventec our contract manufacturer. This is a sign of great respect and we are honored by the gesture. Business meetings have gone extremely well and will conclude with a tour of the production lines tomorrow.
After meetings today at our factory in Pudong and before dinner our hosts take us to the famous TMSK bar in the Xin Tian Di shopping area. This place is a photographer’s dream and while others drank and socialized I soaked in the beautiful light. Illuminated glass is used everywhere in the design to dramatic effect.
The Crown Plaza Hotel will be home for the next three nights. Christmas decorations dominate every hotel lobby and shopping area. This one features an antique car and movie making theme. I could not figure out the holiday tie in but it certainly made for a nice photo.
Today is a travel day from Taipei to Shanghai. Despite it being a relatively short flight, the journey took the better part of the day. This image, taken from the airplane, reminds me of the backgrounds in Chinese brush paintings.
We are treated to a magnificent traditional Taiwanese dinner by our gracious hosts which includes those seated at the partially shown second table. Successful business partnerships in China depend of building strong personal relationships and there is no better way to do this than over fine food and wine. The affair lasted three hours and after a full day of meetings and sightseeing I was ready to sleep for two days.
A brief visit to the Grand Hotel on the way to dinner afforded this interior shot of the lobby. No need for red lights on the Christmas tree when that is the primary color to be found in the hotel.
The Gate of Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness is the main entrance to the park. I regret now not having photographed it from the other side, looking back on the illuminated park.
Another view of the National Concert Hall after the sun has set.
Without a flash I could not expose for both the magnificent caisson and the statue, so I opted for the former. Inscribed on the wall above and behind the seated figure of Chiang Kai-shek are the Chinese characters for Ethics, Democracy, and Science.
The memorial to the former President of the Republic of China is octagonal in shape. The number 8 is traditionally associated in Asia with abundance and good fortune.
It is hard to photograph the tallest building in the world from the ground. Here is my best effort. This is Taipei 101, named for the number of floors above ground. It was recently overtaken in height by the Burj Dubai in the United Arab Emirates upon completion of the Burj’s 141st floor. Taipei 101 retains the title of “world’s tallest building”, however, as international architectural standards define a “building” as a completed structure capable of being occupied. Completion of the Burj has been stalled by the economic downturn.
Pictured here in the National Concert Hall located in the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park.