China Photo Journal

Lots of pomp-and-circumstance to open the trade show in Chengdu, including this ribbon cutting accompanied by paratroopers flying overhead and a military band paired with an all-girl drum brigade.

Everyone wanted to have their picture taken with the bearded Canadian man from Summerhill, including these three young ladies who were hired by our distributor to lure customers to our booth at the trade show.

Lolipop-shaped-sausage-on-a-stick. Just one of many strange sights at the trade show.

A large parade of red-armbanded young men marched outside the trade show carrying placards. Were they protesting something? No, they were advertising a website.

Here I am with Kabinett's principles at a gala dinner and guided icewine tasting hosted by the Canada-China Wine Alliance. From left to right is Wong Kwin - marketing director, myself, Yang Wei - chairman & proprietor, and Mr Guo - general manager.

This is the entrance to the tasting room in the Beijing offices of our China distributor, Kabinett Trading Company.

Here's me with a number of the sales and support staff at Kabinett.

On our day off we went to the Great Wall, and then to a show at the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square. Here's me with Yang Wei's husband Mr Yuan, and their son Rei-Rei.

Here is me with my travel companion, interpreter, and Summerhill's secret weapon in our quest to develop the market in China for our products, Li Zhou, in Tiananmen square. I had really mixed feelings about being there, and at one point asked Yang Wei's brother about the people of China's relationship with Chairman Mao. He told me that Chairman Mao is respected as the father of modern China, but he is not loved by the people, as some other public Chinese figures are loved.

Surveillance cameras and loud speakers at Tiananmen square.

 That evening we attended a gala concert celebrating the 15th anniversary of the state television channel Pheonix TV. The concert was held at the Great Hall of the People, which is where China's legislative body deliberates and votes. It was like going to a concert in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill, or the Capitol building in D.C. The concert featured a full symphony orchestra playing alongside an electro/acoustic band, with both a grown-up choir and a children's choir, a dance troupe and Kung Fu troupe, and an assortment of Chinese media personalities, singers, and pop groups.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Jackie Chan. He was one of the featured performers at the Pheonix gala. Now there is a public figure who is without question both loved and respected!