It's been a while since I've last posted, partly because my laptop's screen is not working properly, while most of my photos are in there. Anyways, here are some photos from a trip to Changsha and Xiamen last December. Since it was a business trip, I did not have the chance to take as many photos as I would have liked, but here they are:
We took Air China (not to be mistaken with China Airlines) in to Xiamen from Singapore, before transiting on Southern China Airlines into Changsha. Verdict on these two airlines? Need more work in terms of customer service.
Landing at Xiamen International Airport. Lots of low level buildings near the runway.
A quaint little propeller driven bi-plane sitting near the runway. Not sure if it actually works or if it is just for display.
Inside the airport itself. We had to exit the international section and re-enter the domestic flight section.
My hotel room in Changsha.
Despite it not being along the coast, Changsha is a big city, as it is the provincial capital of the Hunan Province.
This is part of the 步行街, a shopping street not unlike Shinsaibashi in Osaka, just wider.
Part of the shopping street described above.
An interesting feature found in most big Chinese cities are bronze statues like this one, that depict life in older days. Apparently they are meant to remind the younger generation how life was like in the past.
Look carefully and you can spot fireworks going off. This was taken at about 9 plus in the morning. When we asked our local contact why, he explained that local construction firms set off fireworks to either celebrate the commencement or completion of a project, and such scenes happen almost daily. Goes to show the tremendous growth rate there.
Tea is served using these pots with extra long spouts at a restaurant that we went to. The waiters are trained to perform tricks using these pots; I have videos of them but will upload them another time.
Another restaurant had a lady playing on a huge drum located outside.
The interior of the same restaurant. We had our dinner at a private room however.
One thing that Chinese companies really need to do is to stop trying to ride on the brand name of western companies, or at least do it well. This shop is a case in point.
Upon our arrival back in Xiamen, the hotel was nice enough to pick us up from the airport. It was at this point that I noticed this baseball bat next to the driver's seat. There was also a metal rod next to a taxi driver's seat back in Changsha. Goes to show a thing or two about public safety huh.
Came across this OCBC bank in Xiamen. Unless I read the plaque outside wrongly, this is where OCBC started off from.
Besides finding this shop, we also found a BreadTalk branch in a shopping centre.
There were plenty of roadside stalls selling the local version of popiah.
Plenty of stalls selling the local version of oden as well.
Night view of Xiamen from a ferry.
A view of the Xiamen bridge.
A large statue dedicated to a Chinese admiral. The statue is supposed to drive away any storms from approaching.
We visited this temple located a distance away from Xiamen, as it is near the hometown of my boss.
This tree here is more than 800 years old.
The interesting feature of this pagoda and another just like it is that they are made entirely out of stone.
We had dinner at a foodcourt not unlike those back in Singapore. Quality of the food was not good though.
This was taken at the local Carrefour.
A little girl playing with a trike used for sight-seeing.
This building is part of the Jimei University, founded by a Singaporean before the Second World War.
The administrative building of the Jimei University.
The memorial to the founder of the university is located nearby.
The walkway leading to the interior is decorated with stone relief decorations explaning his life story.
The detail of the reliefs are incredible.
Alright, that's all the photos for now. Will upload more from other occasions later.
