Monday 23 June 2014

Always approach a company for Mandarin translation services

I would always approach a company for Mandarin translation services because translation software cannot be fully trusted and to ignore it and take the risk will be hugely costly and not amusing when I am in front of the board of directors.

In fact, I think I would lose my job which I have worked hard at. The problem is in today's business world it is fast paced and are always looking to reduce costs, which to me means reduces performance and quality if the translation is wrong.

If the wording has gone to print before the errors are found then this will impact on the company's profits.

At the end of the day you get what you spent and below are three funny marketing translations gone wrong.

1. Matsushita and Panasonic were launching a pc and browser in Japan.  The marketing campaign used Woody the Woodpecker.  The campaign was placed on hold when a member of staff noticed the U.S slang translation 'Touch Woody – The Internet Pecker.'

2. Gerber placed a baby picture on their jars and packaging when they entered the African market but due to African's low literacy rate, many companies in Africa used pictures on labels to denote what’s inside.

3. Pepsi translated in China means, “Pepsi Brings You Back to Life.” The message in Chinese literally means, “Pepsi Brings Your Ancestors Back from the Grave.”

Thursday 19 June 2014

The real cost to China's businesses with government anti-corruption crackdown

Many news reports have been published about China's ongoing crackdown on corruption (tigers and flies), but now one of the world's biggest banks has put a price on the corruption.

The report published by the Bank of America Merrill Lynch this week, the Chinese government's anti-graft campaign could have cost China's economy more than $100bn this year alone. 

Many of the small effects of the anti-corruption drive have already been well documented; a slowdown in the restaurant trade and sales in luxury goods has seen Chinese business go out of business.

The gift giving culture is part of the Chinese business culture and required if doing business in China.

The past year has seen Shanghai's posh malls and boutique designer shops business slow to snails pace but the BofAML report suggests that the campaign is also having a significant and troubling macroeconomic effect.

Early last year, government bank deposits have been soaring, by almost 30% year on year and even honest officials are now terrified of starting new projects, for fear of being seen as corrupt that they're simply keeping public funds in the bank.

The cost to the economy of the prohibition on government consumption and the chill on admin spending is an estimated reduction in growth of at least 0.6% this year but it could, the report argues, be as high as 1.5% which gives us the figure of about $135bn of lost economic activity.

The report's authors admit their calculations are a back of the envelope estimate of fiscal contraction, but even if they are only half right it is an extraordinary amount of money and it highlights some of the challenges facing China's anti-corruption crusader in chief, President Xi Jinping.

Since taking office over a year ago Xi has made the cause his goal, warning that official graft and extravagance threaten the very survival of the ruling Communist Party.

Published by Go Frontiers (UK & China)

Isle of Man business to see benefits of Chinese link up

Twelve delegates from the Isle of Man where hosted by a Chinese delegation when they visited China and could soon have produced tangible results for the island economy announced by the chief minister.

Last Wednesday Allan Bell signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in the northern Tianjin.

The new alliance aims to provide mutual beneficial trade and technical links between countries.

Mr Allan Bell said: "We have shown how we can support Chinese businesses seeking to do business in UK and Europe" and added, "Strengthening cooperation is key to doing business in China".
 
Published by Go Frontiers (UK & China)

Wednesday 18 June 2014

Part B: An important partner in China

Starting the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Chinese delegation visit to the United Kingdom the Home Office has explained the new visa service aimed at making it wasier for Chinese visitors to the UK.

Chinese visitors inc. business/tourism will now be able to use the new single process for British visas. Also the Schengen visa has been created giving access to other EU countries.

The new visa service is a twenty-four-hour service for Chinese visitors and will be launched in late summer around August.

It is not only Chinese tourists but also 
wealth Chinese visiting the UK visiting Britain.

Roughly £18bn worth of business/commercial agreements/deals were signed and this comes after authorities in China complainted about the difficulties for Chinese people entering.

The Home Secretary Theresa May mentioned, "
Chinese tourism in the UK is soaring".

Published by Go Frontiers (UK & China)

Part A: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits the UK yesterday

Yesterday (17th June 2014) the UK played host to China's Premier Li Keqiang and a Chinese delegation on their three day visit to the UK.

The Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived in London, yesterday on a three day visit, which is part of Europeon tour for his first official visit with the aim for business talks with the British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Later on in the day Premier Li will have an audience and photo oportunity when he meets Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle.

Their has been plenty of discussions about doing business in China and the UK and the diffeculties in British and Chinese business culture.

However Mr Li said he really hoped his visit would expand Sino-British busines co-operations and create a better understanding between both countries.

The talks went well for both countries but Mr Cameron still remains hugely concerned about China's human rights.

Published by Go Frontiers (UK & China)

Sunday 8 June 2014

The Chinese lady who loves shopping and being a Mystery Guest


My business partner being a Chinese lady who loves shopping and assessing business facilities established our mystery guest program ten years ago and uses British and Chinese people.

For her it has been really interesting because she has gained so many interesting things about the British shopping culture as well as learning the difference between cultures in China and the UK.

The main thing that stands out for her is the lack of customer service in UK shops and the poor quality of food served in pubs and restaurants. Most of the time we find pubs and restaurants don't provide the quality of food expected for the price paid.

 If you want good quality food you have to pay a premium price at a high end restaurant.

Published by Go Frontiers (UK & China)

Friday 6 June 2014

Boom expected in beer sales, in China for World Cup fever

Beer sales set to boom with the 2014 World Cup fever in China. This is aided by the increasing middle class drinking bottled and canned beers creating a good market for exporting to China, especially for British real ale and craft beers.

The second and third quarters of the year 2014 will see an increase in beer sales between June 12th and July 13th.

Even though there are lots of exported beers in China Tsingtao and Beijing's Yanjing are expected to do well. In China beer consumption is a seasonal tradition of doing well in the summer and but slowing down for the autum/winter due to the Chinese drinking hot drinks instead.

More can be read on our blog  

On business in China and eating out - What you need yo know?


You're doing business in China and are negotiating a big deal for from the early hours of the morning with five Chinese directors discussing your products, brands and the possabilities of exporting to China. At lunch the directors take you out for dinner at an expensive restaurant. When the first dish of chickens feet arrives, one the directors jumps up and using his chop sticks serves you a chicken's foot on to your plate.

What are you going to do? What does this mean to you, your business and your deal?

A: Have you upset him or coursed him to loose Face
B: The director thinks you are struggle with your chopsticks and is trying to help you
C: The director is showing his respect
D: The directors having a bet to see what you will or not eat
E: Think I should have accepted Go Frontiers (UK & China) services in Mandarin and Chinese Translation Services


Then, what are you going to do?
A: Think 'Oh Boy!!!' and get tuck into food thinking of a the bush tucker trial
B: Thank him and eat the food
C: When no one is looking through the food behind the curtain
D: Leave the food and make an excuss

Chinese business culture is some thing you need to know if you are doing business with the Chinese.


Published by Go Frontiers (UK & China)

Tuesday 3 June 2014

Derbyshire company's corporate social responsibility work to help Chinese Buddhist Master restock Shanghai Lake

In a suburb near Shanghai Go Frontiers contributed in helping the Buddhist Master Wei Jing to release fish that were originally destined for Shanghai's fish markets.

In a short Buddhist ceremony given by the Master Wei Jing over 20,000 fish were released in to the lake in an effort to help the environment and restock the lake next to their ancient temple.

Based in Loscoe village in Derbyshire, Go Frontiers helps UK companies to do business in China, build relationships and people skills in Chinese business culture with their Chinese counterparts/agents in order to save costs, improve performance, day-to-day communications and reduce risk, employee stress.

More of the story can be read on our news blog

Posted by Gary Rice, Go Frontiers (UK & China)

Monday 2 June 2014

Dragon Boat Race Festival: The Chinese are on holiday...


Today is a Chinese bank holiday and the famous, 'Dragon Boat Race Festival'.
 
If you are doing business in China expect movement from the Chinese factories. The Dragon Boat Race is to commemorate the poet Qu Yuan which dates back over 2000 years.
 
The legend has it that a Chinese court official named Qu Yuan, was banished... Read more at http://www.gofrontiers.co.uk/blog.php?varPgId=0011-chinese-dragon-boat-race-chinese-bank-holiday

Posted by Gary Rice, Go Frontiers (UK & China)

Saturday 31 May 2014

Helping UK companies to move into the internet age


SpicyTuna web design and web consultancy have been helping UK companies to move into the internet age, since 1999. Originally set up to help fund the director, Gary Rice, through university, Gary quickly found a number of clients who required an online presence and soon built up a portfolio of websites.
 
Gary said, "Since 1999 web design has become much more technical and rich with the increase in broad band speeds and database fed websites".
 
Over this period the internet bubble has burst, flash websites have gone, Microsoft's Silver light struggled to take off and we have moved from the ASP Classic programming language to ASP.NET 4.

Published by Go Frontiers (UK & China)

Thursday 29 May 2014

Working in China

Benefits of working and doing business in China
China is the largest economies in the world and still growing. This is the reason many multi-national companies are relocating to China and other companies who are already located in other parts of Asia are moving their headquarters to China.

The market in China is still very buoyant with new sectors open up, such as banking/financial services and accounting/legal. The demand for foreign talent will continue, particularly if they have the right business/language skills such as Chinese translation, Chinese Interpreters and understand Chinese business culture.

Economy and Job Market
What is the current local job market situation? China rapid rise and booming economy has made it into one of the most candidate short markets in Asia, facing with some of the highest wage inflation and employee turnover rates in Asia. The Chinese market is fairly buoyant with many companies still moving to China and setting up offices.

Published by: Gary Rice, Go Frontiers (UK & China)

Chinese Tea Culture

Chinese tea culture refers to the method of tea preparation; the equipment used and its part played in Chinese culture not only from a health point of view but also as a way to show a persons respect and honour.

The tea ceremony (chayi, 茶藝) also known as the 'Art of Tea' is the method used to first clean the tea and warm the cups. Then the tea is poured into small cups keeping the tea hot. Tea should always be pored hot.

To show your respect to a Chinese person socially and in business, refill their cup when the tea level gets to the half way point. This is a really good way to create a relationship with this person when doing business in china.

The tea culture plays a role in Chinese business culture in China and differs greatly from that of Europe, Japan and Britain. In addition to being a drink, Chinese tea is also used in traditional Chinese medicine and in Chinese cuisine.

In China you can regularly see the Chinese carrying glass jar and flasks of Chinese tea around and if you look closely at universities in the UK you will also see Chinese students and Chinese tourists carrying jars and flasks of Chinese tea.

Published by: Gary Rice, Go Frontiers (UK & China)

Wednesday 28 May 2014

Chinese tourism in the UK made easier

Finally, George Osborne understands the need to make it easier for Chinese tourists to visit the UK. Chinese tourism in the UK is set to increase now that the visa process has been made easier.
 
Before the changes were made a Chinese tourist would need to buy two separate visas, one for Europe and one for the UK. It's not only the extra cost that puts the Chinese off but the need to open a recognised bank account and have the right amount for the bond.
 
In my friends case she needed two bank accounts and two bonds which took weeks to organise. After all the hassle she said, "Never again. If Britain doesn't make it easier for them to visit then she will holiday else where".

Published by: Gary Rice, Go Frontiers (UK & China)

Confucianism the key element to Chinese business culture

From 500 BC to the modern age Confucianism still plays a key role in Chinese business culture and China's character and behaviour to create harmony in society.

President Xi Jinping, the new Chinese President, and his government are now promoting the importance of Confucianism and its positive impact on Chinese society focusing not only on social but business values too in order to promote harmony in society and the working environment.

Confucianism is engrained in China's culture
plays its role in social/work ethics, family and relationships. The theory of Confucianism is discussed regularly during dinner, especially between business people.

Learning some Confucianism will give you something to talk about at the dinner table and will help you to build relationships with your Chinese counterparts and agents when
doing business in China.

Published by: Gary Rice, Go Frontiers (UK & China)

Exporting to China - the new SME buzz words in the Midlands

Exporting to China are the new buzz words being used by the SME's in the Midlands area. Two of the top destinations are India and China which highlights the issue of culture and doing business their way. Providing you want to be successful that is.

The common issue over looked until it is too late is culture. Culture in many countries is a big deal especially if you are doing business in China were you will need to grasp an understanding of the Chinese business culture and Chinese social culture.

Business in China is done very differently as the Chinese prefer to build trust before they do business. So it is important to spend the time and build a good relationship that will last.

To do this you need to know how to show your respect and portray your class. Developing your Face and others is equally important when building Chinese relationships.

Published by: Gary Rice, Go Frontiers (UK & China)

China: Dinner table etiquette whilst dinning out on business

Dinner table etiquette in China plays a special part in their social culture and family as a way to show and demonstrate your status and respect, Face and strength of your relationships.

These areas also play a key part in Chinese business culture which can mean the difference between you wining or losing a business deal.

In China dinning out has to be done correctly and with style. As a westerner you are expected to have good manors especially if you are competing for business.

Disappoint them and you will devalue your brand. Look at it as a game with a set of rules to abide by and you will win business.

Published by: Gary Rice, Go Frontiers (UK & China)
 

Thursday 22 May 2014

Chinese business models work well in Chinese business culture compared to Western business models

Six months ago I spoke with the owner of a medium sized Chinese company about modernising her company from the traditional Chinese business model to using a business model from the west.

Interestingly, the lady owner explained that this is exactly what they had done a few years ago and then laughed. She explained that she wanted to increase performance and profits and that the best way forward would be a western business model.

However, applying this with the Chinese business culture was very different. She got the whole company involved in the process but the culture wouldn't mix with the new business model.

In the end the owner and her work force were unhappy, stressed out and decided to go back to their original Chinese business model. The owner said that she was making money, the work force was happy and that she shouldn't have got greedy in the first place.

Even though this was a medium sized company we hear this problem a lot from the larger British companies who have opened a business in China or are dealing with a Chinese company.

Many blame the language barrier and have to use  to try and drive their message and orders forward but when looking closer it is in fact a cultural issue.

Culture is how people are brought up, educated and how they do things. In that country it works so why change it or struggle to try and change it. When you are doing business in a different country, be it France or China you have to do the business culture their way for it to work effectively.

Published by: Gary Rice, Go Frontiers (UK & China)

Monday 19 May 2014

Mystery Guest Programs using Chinese and British People

Before hiring a company to run your mystery guestprogram its worth concidering who your consumers are and what they spend.

If you understand the Chinese business culture and social habits you will discover that most Chinese families save 40% of their income.

China is a class society with the need to show their status by purchasing 
products luxury branded items and want to experience the high end shopping experience.

O
ur expertise iis n retail, fine dining, hotel, hospitality and tourism inc Chinese tourism in the UK and the Hospitality Services for the Wealthy Chinese visiting the UK (Chinese High Net Worth Individuls (HNWI))

We can your assess your business and check for the level of service the Chinese tourists expect.

For more information contact us on +44 (0)7809 154 467 or visit our website
Go Frontiers (UK & China)

In China: How to Meet and Greet

In China: How to Meeting and Greeting
When you are doing business in China it is important to meet people correctly because first impressions count.

Getting it wrong you will loose Face instantly.

Knowing the proper Chinese customs and Chinese business culture is important.

4 Tips for Meeting Chinese People:
  1. Learn a few phrases in Mandarin. This will show your respect and interested in learning their culture and will help break the ice.
  2. Shake hands on the first occasion it is best to use one hand and bow. When your relationship has become stronger use both hands to show your relationship is warm. You must shake hands with every one even if it is a large delegation.
  3. When you present your business card to the people you are meeting using two hands. The business card must be bilingual (English on one side and Mandarin on the other).Present the card Mandarin side up facing the person you are greeting and bow. You should present the side of your card, facing up in the person’s language.
  4. When you receive a business card take a moment to study both sides and show your respect and interest in that person. Place the card in a card holder but don't put it in your back pockets.

Go Frontiers (UK & China) does Chinese translation services so we used them to translate our business cards and leaflets in to Chinese Mandarin.

Posted by Gary Rice, Go Frontiers (UK & China)
  
 

Wednesday 14 May 2014

China Chatter : German hotel tells fellow customers to arive meals 60 minutes before the Chinese tourists arrive

Article published in China tells the story of a Chinese tour group travelling across Europe and their visit to Germany.

The tour group arrived at reception and one of the Chinese guests who spoke good German noticed a German sign saying, "Please attend all meals 60 minutes earlier before the Chinese arrive, because they are too noisy and they will eat all of the food".

This is similar to our (Go Fontiers) experiences and have seen this type of behaviour before from the Chinese tour groups first hand in China and can understand the German hotel trying to keep two sets of customers happy.

But when this happens in your hotel. What are you going to do?

Be ready and get prepared by attending our Chinese Tourism in the UK course
 
Posted by: Gary Rice, Chinese Business Culture Expert,
Director of Go Frontiers (UK and China) based in Derbyshire, UK.

#chineseculture #chinesetourism #chinesetourismintheuk #chinesetourist #foodanddrink #hotel #peakdistrict #uktourism,
 

Wednesday 7 May 2014

The Peak District - What are the Chinese talking about!!!

Well it looks like the Peak District may be getting some Chinese tourists after all. This morning Gary Rice the director of Go Frontiers had a tea and catch up with his Chinese business partner and its apparent that the Chinese are starting to talk about the Peak District.
 
Two recent news articles found on WeChat and in a Chinese newspaper discussed the areas in Peak District and the places to visit that reflect the things the Chinese like and can compare with their own history and culture.
 
It's good when one of business partner is Chinese and speaks fluent English and Mandarin; otherwise the articles would have been missed.
 
Our one day work shop will provide you with the right knowledge to help you tap in to the Chinese tourism market in your area. Chinese tourism in the UK is increasing due to China's middle class and their desire to travel to the UK.
 
The Chinese traditionally save 40% of their income and figures show that on average they spend £663 per transaction.
 
Through understanding the Chinese character, companies can focus on expanding in the Chinese tourist market and provide the service they expect.
 
The course will provide you with the right knowledge to maximise your competitive advantage through a combination of case studies and in-depth information in:-
  • Characteristic's of the Chinese people
  • Chinese Consumer Behaviour
  • Hotel Accommodation for the Chinese
  • Food & Drink
  • Chinese Tour Groups: On the Move
  • Retail and Restaurants
  • Chinese Culture: Presenting & Receiving Things
  • Managing the Chinese and protecting the environment
Go Frontiers has been working in China's hospitality and tourism industry since 2006.
All course are ran onsite giving attendees easier access to the course. To book your business on the course, email Gary Rice at garyrice@gofrontiers.co.uk or call 07809 154 467.
 

Posted by: Gary Rice, Chinese Business Culture Expert,
Director of Go Frontiers (UK and China) based in Derbyshire, UK.
 
#sharemywork #uktourism   #chinesetourism   #chinesetourismintheuk #peakdistrict
 
 
 

Sunday 4 May 2014

Beijing bans cheese imports from Britain

Food inspectors from China were dissatisfied with standards at a UK dairy during their visit.

In China most things are polluted and poisoned including the air, water and food. Recently in 2008, their was the milk scandal (melamine chemical poisoning) were six babies died and 300,000 left sick but largely unknown to the rest of the world was the poisoned and sick pets (dogs and cats) suffering with gallstone problems.

From these incidences China has new food safety laws which came into force on 1st May. The UK prides its self with its high standards of food quality but if China has higher standards then dairy companies have to meet these standards if they want to continue to export to China.

Britain currently exports 11.5 tonnes of cheese to China each year. All though the cheese market in China is relatively small their has been a sharp increase in demand for this year. Export figures for January and February alone are already valued at £93,003 Pounds.

Posted by: Gary Rice, Chinese Business Culture Expert,
Director of Go Frontiers (UK and China) based in Derbyshire, UK.

Saturday 12 April 2014

Breakfast meeting with the Rt Hon Dame Margaret Beckett MP - Interfleet Technology

Gary Rice Director of Go Frontiers (UK & China) and DNCC Chamber meets with the Rt Hon Dame Margaret Beckett MP for business breakfast at Interfleet Technology, head office in Derby.

It was a great morning meeting Dame Margaret Mary Beckett MP and ery interesting hearing Margaret speak on the current issues in the DNCC areas.

More can be read here http://www.gofrontiers.co.uk/blog.php?varPgId=0002-breakfast-meeting-with-margaret-beckett
 
Go Frontiers (UK & China) helps companies to do business better with the Chinese, Chinese Tourism in the UK and Chinese Translation.
 

Thursday 3 April 2014

Go Frontiers helps Buddhist group to restock a lake in Beijing. New Years Day 01/01/2014

On a Beijing freezing morning on New Years Day 01/01/2014 the directors of Go Frontiers who train companies in China and the UK in British and Chinese business culture and etiquette kept their promise of Corporate Social Responsibility in China and got involved with a local Buddhist group in Beijing to help restock a lake that had previously been polluted and the fish stocks depleted.

With every one getting involved they managed to purchase four lorry loads of carp that where destined for the morning fish markets.

After a short Buddhist ceremony the young and old carried and dragged buckets of fish from the trucks to the lake. In sub zero temperatures every one had to move fast and stay dry, which is hard when you are dealing with large fish.

Director Gary Rice said, "Many Chinese were amazed and very pleased to see an Englishman from an English company paying an interest in their local community and helping with a local environment issue. Many Chinese came up to me shook my hand and thanked me".

When Go Frontiers first started in business the directors (one English and one Chinese) decided on having a corporate social responsibility policy to help the areas where the directors grew up as children (Ripley and Beijing).

Monday 3 March 2014

Chinese Checkers: A local business man has helped prevent war with China!

During a trade trip there Gary Rice spotted a sign at a Buddhist theme park telling staff to 'execute tourists in the most advantageous manner'.
 
Gary and his interpreter pointed out the translation error and the sign will now be reworded.
 
His Loscoe firm Go Frontiers provides Chinese Business Culture, Etiquette and Protocol training and translations to UK companies doing business with China.
 
Extract from TopNews, Feb 2014. 


Thursday 6 February 2014

Go Frontiers: Using local heritage centre's good practice helps training provider bridge frontiers in Hainan Island, South China

A Loscoe businessman successfully used a local heritage centre as an example when showing owners and managers how to develop a theme park in China.

Gary Rice runs Go Frontiers which provides Chinese Business Culture, Etiquette and Protocol training courses and translations and, through a business partner, helps companies dealing with businesses in the fast-growing Chinese economy.

He recently returned from China after being approached by a consultancy advising on expanding the park at Hainan Island near the Vietnamese border, which has themes of tropical scenery and local heritage.

Read more here http://www.gofrontiers.co.uk/blog.php?varPgId=0004-dh-lawrence-heritage-ventre-dong-shanling-hainan-island-china

Wednesday 5 February 2014

Understanding Chinese Tourism on Hainan Island, South China

Go Frontiers director Gary Rice, recently returned from China after being approached by a Chinese consultancy advising on expanding a 4A tropical and heritage Tourist Park at Hainan Island, near Vietnam.

Local Research
Gary researched a local heritage centre and surrounding towns to provide training on UK tourism concepts and ideas to the owners and managers on how to develop a theme park in China.


Before flying out Gary visited the local DH Lawrence Heritage Centre at Durban House in Eastwood which portrays the life and works of the famous author, whose books featured the dehumanizing industrialisation of the mines and heavy industry across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

The research focus was on customer service and 'Access for All', including facilities for the different visitor age groups, disabled people, children's buggies and baby changing areas.
Other UK tourism concepts where researched in the landscapes and wildlife of the tourist towns of Buxton, Bakewell and Cromford canal.

Gary cited these examples of good practices during his presentations on the Chinese/foreign tourist's needs which required incorporating into the development plans.

"If one member of a family cannot access a tourist destination due to the lack of facilities and accessibility then that family will go else where, resulting in loss revenue, so it is important to get it correct in the planning and development stage," he said.

Arrive as Mystery Guests and Assess the Tropical Heritage Tourist Parks on Hainan Island's China as an ancient country is still a mystery to most westerners. However in the last thirty years much of China has advanced technologically but many places are still undeveloped.
 
China is a country full of attraction and surprises.

Therefore, arriving on Hainan Island (south China) as mystery guests and spending 10 days working in the jungle was no mean fete, but a great opportunity for Go Frontiers.

The people of Hainan Island are very friendly, honest, helpful and never hassle you into buy anything. Not sure if this was to do with the 'binlang' drug that many locals were seen chewing or sold in the local markets.

The Island has some of the very best scenic views, places to visit and lots to learn about the tropical environment and Island culture.

Accessing the tourist parks Gary noticed many attractions lacking in facilities and were not accessible to senior tourists, tourists with disabilities or young children/babies, resulting in loss revenue for the parks.

Basically, this is down to the tourist attractions not being family friendly, with too many steps, no hand rails, no ramps, no lifts or provide very few clean, seating areas, meaning that the parks where unsuitable for children's buggies, wheelchairs, and too many tripping hazards for the young and elderly.
 


Some places have made the effort to install disabled toilets but they have been designed wrong and so a wheelchair user can't get in the cubicle or the ramps have been made too steep making it a 'Herculean' effort.

On a lighter note many tourist parks had signs translated wrong. One sign said 'Staff Only', which was located next to a cliff edge. Basically only staff are allowed to climb over and fall to their death. It's the best HR policy I've seen for reducing staff levels. 

The second sign at the well known Nanshan Guanyinyuan Buddhist park explained the staff's duties. One of these duties was to 'Execute tourists in the most advantageous manor'.
 

These signs defiantly make you laugh.

Understanding Chinese Tourists
The biggest problems the tourist parks and hotels face are the Chinese tourist tour groups or should say social terrorists. Watching the Chinese tour groups arrive at the parks it was obvious that the Chinese have more human rights than any one in the west.

They drop litter every where, climb on the unprotected historical structures for photos and vandalise the bamboo, tropical plants and historical buildings by carving their names on it. In the UK where not allowed to do this. We'd get fined.  

The Chinese may have advanced technologically but they are slow to care about their environment, or history. What they don't understand is that once it's been damaged or destroyed it's gone forever.

The Chinese tour group's behavior wasn't much better when they descended on the five star Hna Hotel, where Gary stayed.

Watching the tour behavior in the hotel restaurant was appalling to see them shoving and pushing for the tables and food. Any one would have thought that the hotel was going to run out of food.

Many Chinese from the developed areas of China do have good social and table manors but the less developed Chinese are loud and at each meal would pile up two plates of food each, make chomping and slurping noises as they ate with their chins on the table and at intervals would make a load throat growl and then spit on the five star restaurant floor.

Several Chinese used the table cloth instead of a napkin to wipe their mouths and much of food went to waste.

The reason for this is that many of these Chinese used to be poor but with China becoming more developed they now have better living standards and more money to travel and see the world. Their social skills will improve in time.

Whenever you hear the load Chinese throat growl it's a question of which way do you move? Move left, move right or stay still and hope you don't get spat on. 

Attempting to use the natural hot spring (pool) wasn't much better. It was either being empted, filled or filthy. On inspection there was always a thick layer of skin and dirt floating on top of the water from the Chinese cleaning them selves. The idea of a hot spring is to lie back and relax but as always the Chinese had different ideas.

This really annoyed the pool manager as this became a full time job of emptying and refilling the pool throughout the day.

Understanding the Culture around the Parks
Even taking a walk to the nearest town had its dangers as many manhole covers were missing or badly damaged. It's not the place to go out walking at night.


Neither was it safe using the three wheeled taxi motorcycles which have no suspension and the roads have potholes. Gary found this out to his expense when his three wheeled taxi hit a pothole damaging his back for three days.  

Eating out most restaurants was hard going and too dirty to eat in. Most restaurant staff didn't understand what vegetarian meant even if you told them no meat, no fish and for this reason many dishes got sent back to the kitchen.

All the restaurants Go Frontiers ate in used far too much cooking oil and MSG causing stomach issues and having to use the dreaded Chinese style toilet (hole in the ground).
Most Chinese toilets didn't have soap for washing your hands.

Gary was really pleased to see more and more Chinese being able to afford holidays and travel abroad. The Chinese are really nice and welcoming people however their are many aspects that can be improved on with regards to social behaviour.  

Deliver Training to Owners and Managers
The training given by Gary and his business partner on Hainan Island was very successful, resulting in the consultancy winning the long term training contract. The park is planning to upgrade to a 5A park and develop the next phase, including a 'Golden Medicine Buddha', and luxury 5 star hotels at a cost of millions of pounds, with the prospect of Go Frontiers providing more training to make staff ready for the next challenge.


Councillor Ian Tyler, cabinet member for arts, leisure and culture at Broxtowe Borough Council, which manages the Eastwood centre with the University of Nottingham, said: “We are delighted that D. H. Lawrence Heritage has been used as an example of good practice for accessibility to public buildings.

"We get visitors from all over the world including China and we are more than happy to share our positive experience and knowledge with them."
The Chinese are great people to teach and are always interested to learn new ideas and concepts. This in its self is very rewarding for Gary and makes training in China so enjoyable.