China has been an enormously popular destination for business trips and not just since the launch of the New Silk Road project. And even if you don’t have a lot of free time outside meetings, there is a lot of culture and tradition to discover in China. It is worth taking a moment to explore the country. Every occasion is ideal to discover something new. Today we want to introduce you to the provinces of Shaanxi, Guangxi and Zhejiang.
Shaanxi – the cradle of Chinese culture
In the past, Shaanxi province has been the capital of several important dynasties. Xi’an, now the capital of the province, was one of the most strategic cities on the old Silk Road – and remains so on the new version of the route. To visit the region, land in Xi’an and take the opportunity to marvel at the famous Terracotta Army, which belongs to the Mausoleum of the Tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It can be said that everything is concentrated around Xi’an – a destination for business travellers from all over the world. The city was the capital of eleven dynasties and became a hub for trade routes between China, the rest of Asia and Europe. It was no coincidence that Shaanxi invested $90 million in the New Silk Road project in the first half of 2018. The Shaanxi region is very extensive and varied: practically empty in the north, flat in the centre and mountainous in the south. The old dynasties – the Shang, the Zhou and then the Qin – emerged from this region. Shaanxi lies at the centre of the Loess plateau which played an important role in the history of the Chinese empire. The loess, for which the plateau is named, is the characteristically yellow, often clay-rich sediment that favours the cultivation of wheat and millet, and from which the Yellow River crossing the plateau derives both its colour and its name. The extraction of coal, oil, natural gas and non-ferrous metals is the driving force of the regional economy.
Guangxi – journey to another world
Guangxi is an autonomous region in the south of the People’s Republic of China and is not a classic destination for a business trip. Located on the Vietnamese border, the region is known for its rice fields, strange rock formations and stalactite caves. Longsheng is also located here. For many people, the terraced slopes are among the most beautiful landscapes in the world. Guangxi is an impressive region with unspoiled nature, rice fields and small villages where time seems to have stood still. Economically the textile industry and mechanical engineering are predominant, while rice and maize are the major agricultural products. However, culture and tradition do not exclude modernity and technology – five international airports and good hotels attract visitors to the region.
Zhejiang – the land of fish and rice
South of Shanghai lies Zhejiang, a rather small but particularly rich province. This area has long been dominated by agriculture, a sector that employs the majority of the population and is characterised by small rural villages. The north of the province is the agricultural heartland. This is also where China’s main silk production region is located. The area around Zhoushan, by contrast, is the country’s largest fishing area. It is striking that the average per capita income of the rural population has been the highest in China for 22 years.
With its own development programme, the province primarily promotes small businesses, and invests in infrastructure and the mass production of cheap products both for domestic consumption and for export. Zhejiang has thus become one of China’s richest provinces. However, some economists doubt that its model is sustainable.
So if you’re planning a business trip to China, build in some time away from meetings to visit exciting places and learn about local culture and traditions – it’s worth it. With Lufthansa Group airlines you can reach many destinations in China. With PartnerPlusBenefit you can take advantage of the bonus programme offers on your flights to replenish your points account.
