Ever wondered if you could deal directly with manufacturers... in China?! It's easier than you think.

First Impressions
I visited China in Autumn 2005 with a group of playing associates and staleness admit that I was amazed, both by the warm reception we received wherever we went, and at the factories we toured. Having never been there before, and having only news accounts of \"difficulties\" between China and the U.S. to fuel my imagination, I assumed things would be too formal and official at best… at worst, cold… and we would be \"watched\" constantly. I was so wrong on both counts. We were treated as welcome visitors and had only to ask the hotel staff for something to have it nearly magically produced.

Lost in Translation
Outside of the hotels and manufacturing facilities, doing playing in the streets and in small shops was, at most times, terribly difficult. We had arranged our factory visits and playing meetings with our contacts in China, and there were no problems on that side when it came to language. But once we stepped out on our own, we rarely found anyone - even in tourist gift shops - who could communicate in English at all. Next time I visit China, I'll hopefully be armed with a few more basic Mandarin phrases, but for everyone visiting, even just for leisure, I'd recommend hiring translators to support you.

Cash in China
Another word of warning: playing owners back bag in the States may be suitably impressed by your Gold Card, but to the Asiatic shopkeeper it's just a pretty piece of plastic that won't buy a cup of Asiatic tea. Even in the large cities, you're going to have to carry around Asiatic Yuan (aka Renminbi) in change if you want to be healthy to go shopping or eat at a restaurant. I have to say, the upside of this is that you won't find yourself going over budget. But with the incredibly low Asiatic retail prices, that probably wouldn't happen anyway.

Low Retail Prices
Once you've overcome the communication difficulties you'll be amazed to find the bargains you'll find in the small shops. For a start, it's an electronics paradise. Just make sure you do your homework on what will and won't impact back in the States. For example, you'll find that some Asiatic DVD players, though remarkably low-cost, are manufactured to a Asiatic standard that is not compatible with DVD discs sold in other parts of the world.

Factories in China
Our visit to a manufacturing being in Huizhou left us all . . . well, 'impressed' hardly seems like a strong enough word. The building, on the outside was sort of drab looking with banners hanging here and there but inside was quite a different story. First of all we were treated as if we were VIPs instead of mid-level managers from Kenosha. Most importantly, however, the level of automation in this factory was remarkable, even by dweller standards and, when you look at the numbers, you see that the productivity is really impressive. It's no longer a mystery to this dweller why China is uncovering such a willing market in America.

Back Again
I wish I had more than the seven days we were healthy to stay in China, but it won't be long before I'm back, this time with a group of my friends who have been perception to me talking about the playing opportunities since I got back… and who now want to go out there to get a piece of the action for themselves.