September 27, 2021 • 23 mins
As we come up to the October ‘Golden Week’ holidays in China, wouldn’t you like to hear the opinions of 30 people on their favourite travel destinations within Mainland China? Your wish is my command! In today’s special compilation episode from Season 02 of Mosaic of China, we showcase the guests’ travel recommendations, from the beaches of 海南 [Hǎinán] to the mountains of 云南 [Yúnnán]; from the city of 重庆 [Chóngqìng] to the grasslands of 内蒙古 [Inner Mongolia]; and from the wine country of 宁夏 [Níngxià] to the bamboo forests of 安吉 [Ānjí]. So my question for you today is... where would be *your* favourite travel destination within mainland China? Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 02:35 - Main 22:10 - Outro Subscribe to the PREMIUM version, see the visuals, and/or follow the full transcript for this episode at https://mosaicofchina.com/season-02-compilation-01-china-destinations.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:03):
[Trailer]Sean HARMON: I mean, now it's getting so built
up, which is a bit of a shame.OF: Yes. People like you keep talking about
it, man.SH: I know, I know. And now I'm sitting here
saying it on podcast, which isn't helpingmy case I guess.
[Intro]OF: Welcome to Mosaic of China, a podcast
about people who are making their mark inChina. I’m your host, Oscar Fuchs.
(00:24):
So let me say right from the start that thisis not a regular episode. I’m taking some
time off from releasing regular weekly episodeswhile I produce the next season of the podcast.
If you’re a subscriber to the PREMIUM versionof the show - on Patreon internationally,
or on 爱发电 [Àifādiàn] in China - youwill already know this, because I’ve just
(00:45):
sent you the details of the first batch ofpeople I’m recording interviews with next
month. So if you want to get involved andhelp to pose questions for these future guests
of Season 03, now is the perfect time to subscribe.It costs just the equivalent of US$2 per month,
and that also gives you immediate access toall six hours of extra content from Season
(01:06):
02 as well.
So what is today’s episode all about? Well,if you’ve listened to at least one regular
episode from the season, you will know thatas part of each interview I ask every guest
the same 10 simple questions on their tastesand opinions of life in China. And it’s
the answers to these 10 questions that formthe content for not just today’s episode,
(01:29):
but the following 9 special compilation episodescoming up too. These compilations are a great
way to hear all 30 voices from Season 02 together,and to see how people from a variety of different
backgrounds approach the same topic. And ifyou didn’t listen to someone’s original
episode from earlier in the year, hopefullythis will nudge you to go back and check out
(01:49):
their full interview too.
Here in China, we’re just coming up to theOctober ‘Golden Week’ holidays, so it’s
perfect timing to talk about travel destinationsin mainland China. As you’re listening,
be sure to think about your own favouritetravel destination in China, and find a photo
to share with the Mosaic of China communityon social media. Or even share a snap from
(02:12):
wherever you might be on the road in Chinathis week. Just search for ‘Mosaic of China’
on Instagram or Facebook, or you can joinone of the listeners groups on WeChat. Search
for my WeChat ID (02:22):
mosaicofchina, and I’ll add you to the group myself.
Having said all that, let’s now get on withit, and listen to the answers to the question:
“What is your favourite destination withinmainland China?
[Main][Voiceover]
OF (02:37):
Jo McFarland, the product sourcing leader from Episode 18.
[Clip]JM: Well, see there's so many. However, one
of the advantages of the job is that we dogo to all parts of China. And there is a garden
furniture factory that's in an area called临海 [Línhǎi]. Have you ever been there?
Never heard of it. JM
(02:59):
countryside, and in the middle of it is afurniture factory.
Oh god. JM
to go to, because it's in such a beautifullocation.
That is nice. And are there any places that you have to go to as a sourcer, where
you're like “Oh god, do I have to go backthere?”
JM (03:13):
Do you know, I quite enjoy going to all those places, because they’ve all got different
Chinese character. I mean, in Shanghai everythingis so shiny and beautiful and fabulous. But
some of the places we go, it's much more gritty.And I actually really like that, because it
does remind you where you are.OF: Yeah.
Keep it real, Oscar. OF
(03:34):
[Voiceover]OF: Michael Kinsey, the fire engineer from
Episode 25.[Clip]
MK (03:39):
I think one of my favourite places is 浙江 [Zhèjiāng], as a province. Lots of
places of natural beauty. It's so close toShanghai as well. I've been whitewater rafting
there, I've been hiking there, you can goto 杭州 [Hángzhōu], I've been to different
islands just off the coast of 浙江 [Zhèjiāng].It's absolutely beautiful. And you can do
it all within a weekend, if you live in Shanghai.I think it's an amazing place.
(04:03):
[Voiceover]OF: Noxolo Bhengu, the African community organiser
from Episode 14.[Clip]
NB (04:10):
I'm so embarrassed. I haven't travelled a lot in China.
OF (04:15):
Really? NB
The further you get away from the city, thebetter.
Yeah. [Voiceover]
Jamie Barys, the street food expert from Episode 02.
[Clip]JB: Oh, there are so many good places, it’s
hard to pick one. But my most favourite placethat I've gone recently would be 宁夏 [Níngxià].
(04:36):
Oh. JB
my girlfriends to wine country. And we hadamazing food, amazing wine, just the most
hospitable people. You know, it's funny becausepeople are always like "Oh, Shanghainese people
are so mean” and I'm like “They're not!They're lovely!” And then you go to 宁夏
[Níngxià], and you're like “Oh, maybein comparison”, because they're just so
(04:57):
welcoming and so friendly.[Voiceover]
Chang Chihyun, the humanities professor from Episode 03.
[Clip]CC: I would say Shanghai.
OK. CC
Yeah. CC
Right. CC
[Sūzhōu]. So the Shanghainese are actuallythe combination of Ningbo-nese and Suzhou-nese.
(05:21):
And then all the foreign influences on top.
CC (05:23):
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And actually, Shanghainese collect a lot of Western languages like
it means an old gentleman who knows how toenjoy his petit bourgeois life. “Kala”
means ‘white collar’.OF: Oh ‘collar’, how funny.
Yeah, and when we say “xiaolaji”, ‘xiao’ is ‘little’, ‘laji’ means
(05:45):
‘undisciplined woman’, it’s… But anyway,‘laji’ is ‘laissez faire’.
OF (05:50):
Oh, right. CC
How funny. CC
Mmm. CC
And I guess because it is a city of immigrants, everyone here, from day one…
CC (06:02):
Yeah, no-one can claim that “I am a real local Shanghainese”. No.
[Voiceover]OF: Douglon Tse, the island businessman from
Episode 15.[Clip]
DT (06:14):
So this is the tricky part. Because China keeps changing.
OF (06:17):
Yeah. DT
is 滴水 [Dīshuǐ] lake.OF: Oh, right. That's somewhere in Shanghai,
right?DT: Yeah, right in between 嵊泗 [Shèngsì]
island and downtown Shanghai. And I rentedan apartment there earlier this year, because
I just, I really like 滴水 [Dīshuǐ] lake.It's like a mini young version of 深圳 [Shēnzhèn].
Just full of young people. In 滴水 [Dīshuǐ]lake, everyone's full of energy and just full
(06:40):
of growth potential.[Voiceover]
Ajay Jain, the car designer from Episode 21.
[Clip]AJ: Shanghai. I’ve travelled quite a bit
in China, I’ve moved around all my life,I've lived in many different places. Shanghai
gives me the impression that I'm living ina different city every day. Everything is
just constantly dynamic. The city reinventsitself, as it were. Five years ago, I was
(07:06):
in Pasadena, in the college that I went to,and these kids were drawing what they thought
was the future of transportation. And thenthey asked me how I went to work. And I told
him that I scan a QR code, and get on anybicycle, get on a metro, and get off the metro,
and take my Segway, and then zip into my office.And that sounded more futuristic than some
(07:28):
of the things that they were conceptualising.So…
Yeah. [Voiceover]
Cassandra Chen, the heavy metal bar owner from Episode 16.
[Clip]CC: I like 三亚 [Sānyà], lying on the
beach. I like 莫干山 [Mògànshān], whichis close to nature in the mountains.
Yeah. You spent a lot of time in Beijing. What do you think about Beijing?
CC (07:50):
It's big. People are more easy. OF
That’s right. OF
Yeah, like that, yeah. OF
a reputation for being a bit more complicated,right? They don't always say what they mean.
Yeah, that's right. [Voiceover]
OF (08:11):
Stéphane Wilmet, the head of consumer insights at L'Oreal from Episode 01.
[Clip]SW: I've been lucky to have travelled to many
places in China, but Beijing remains my favouritedestination. So much culture, so many places.
And also, of course, for me a lot of memories.It combines modernity and traditions. And
(08:36):
a friend of mine told me, quite rightly so,that if Shanghai is the heart of China, Beijing
is its head. It's the brain. It's a cold city,it’s a mysterious city, but it's a powerful
city, it’s an energising city, at the scaleof China.
Wow. [Voiceover]
(08:57):
Jiyoung, the transgender teacher from Episode 30.
[Clip]J: I don't have a particular favourite destination.
But a destination that I have recent enthusiasmfor is 海南 [Hǎinán] Province. Because
after my surgery, that's the place where Iwore my bikini in public for the first time.
And it was such a huge affirming aspect, tobe on the beaches, and to be seen in public.
(09:22):
So, at this point in time, that has a hugeplace in my heart.
[Voiceover]OF: Murray King, the public affairs leader
from Episode 29.[Clip]
MK (09:33):
平遥 [Píngyáo], 平遥古城 [Píngyáo Gǔchéng]. I think maybe others have said
that too.OF: No.
It's incredible. I would recommend it to anybody. You know, it's a walled city - about
six square kilometres - it rises up out ofthe agricultural plains of 山西 [Shānxī]
Province. And it is a tremendous experience,it feels like you're stepping into a 明 [Míng]
Dynasty movie. And within that walled city…It's a protected UNESCO World Heritage site,
(09:58):
so there's really no development on the outsideof the walled city. So it’s mostly just
farmland. Of course, there are a few touristthings that have popped up. But within the
walled city, there really are no cars. Youcan rent a bicycle, you can bike around the
city on the wall. There are lots of traditionalhotels, and restaurants, and great food, and
great people. And it’s just a wonderfulexperience.
OF (10:19):
The photos I saw from my friend's holiday there did show a mass of tourists, though.
So that's the one downside, right?MK: Well I was lucky enough to go 20 years
ago.OF: Ah.
[Voiceover]OF: Jovana Zhang, the handicrafts designer
from Episode 08.[Clip]
JZ (10:36):
I really love the Yellow Mountains, I really love that area there. That would be
some place, 碧山 [Bìshān], that we visitedso many times. Our friends, they have a beautiful
hotel there in the middle of the fields, thiswas an old oil factory before, really really
nice.OF: Wow.
[Voiceover]OF: Seth Harvey, the education coach from
(10:57):
Episode 19.[Clip]
OF (10:58):
What is your favourite destination within China?
SH (10:59):
重庆 [Chóngqìng] is a pretty cool city too. When I was there for a business
trip, it reminded me of the old kind of Shanghaithat I had first encountered, that I'd fallen
in love with. Now everything's more modernised,and it's changed, incrementally. But when
you go to 重庆 [Chóngqìng] it's kind oflike that “Aaahh.” It reminds you of the
past and it brings up those memories, andpeople are super friendly, and I feel like
I’m a representative, for not just Americans,but of all foreigners. And how I act, and
(11:24):
interact with people, kind of sets the statusquo in their mind of how all foreigners are.
OF (11:29):
Nice. But that's just you being nice to 重庆 [Chóngqìng], you actually still prefer
Shanghai.SH: A million times over.
[Voiceover]OF: Sean Harmon, the beer company CEO from
Episode 09.[Clip]
SH (11:43):
There are definitely more beautiful places in China than 莫干山 [Mògànshān], but
to me it's kind of a sentimental place. Imean, we've had a lot of our annual company
meetings there with our management team. Wecook together, we run together through the
mountains, we do walks, and we create thenew strategy for the new year. I also go there
with my friends, on weekends to get out ofthe city. To me, it has a very special place
(12:07):
in my heart. I mean, now it's getting so builtup, which is a bit of a shame.
OF (12:10):
Yes, yes. People like you keep talking about it, man.
SH (12:13):
I know, I know. And now I'm sitting here saying it on podcast, which isn't helping
my case I guess.[Voiceover]
OF (12:18):
DJ BO, the DJ from Episode 23. [Clip]
BO (12:24):
My favourite destination in China - we've touched upon this - is 武汉 [Wǔhàn]. It
was a city that I've been to more than anyother. I love Inferno in Shanghai, Temple
in Beijing. But 武汉 [Wǔhàn] Prison isthe coolest bar there. And every good bar
- every great bar, I should say - becomesthe personality of the manager. Her name is
(12:45):
Dong Dong, and she is an explosive characterthat can't really be characterised. Is she
20, is she 40? She wears these layers of clothing,she’s got these big dreadlocks, and she
cackles when she laughs, and 武汉 [Wǔhàn]Prison bar is almost a manifestation of who
she is.[Voiceover]
OF (13:06):
Björn Dahlman, the Swedish clown from Episode 17.
[Clip]BD: My heart will always be on 武当 [Wǔdāng]
mountain. But what I heard is that they didwhat they did in 少林 [Shàolín] mountain.
They banned all the schools on the mountains,and they built a village below, which is…
Ah.[Voiceover]
Cocosanti, the drag performer from Episode 05.
(13:29):
[Clip]C: My favourite place in China is any place
with a very large window and a coffee shop.Now, the reason being is because, I like going
on a train and going to a random city, findinga coffee shop, and just sitting by the window,
doing my work, and people-watching. That'sjust what I enjoy doing. I love doing it in
(13:54):
the U.S. as well.OF: I like that.
C (13:56):
Yeah. OF
Oh my god. Yeah. I'm a city girl. OF
Yeah, I did Boy Scouts, **** that. That's all.
[Voiceover]OF: Louise Roy, the childbirth and lactation
specialist from Episode 06.[Clip]
LR (14:13):
I don't get to travel much - I think you probably hear that from a lot of people in
healthcare, I don't travel a lot because babies,babies, babies, they’re just born all the
time - but I really enjoyed visiting, yearsback, 峨眉山 [Éméishān] and 乐山 [Lèshān].
I liked 峨眉山 [Éméishān] particularlybecause it just… I come from the Blue Mountains
in Australia…OF: Nice.
…And it felt like that laid-back mountain-y kind of thing.
OF (14:35):
Yes. LR
Province, are they?LR: Yes.
峨眉 [Éméi] I don’t know, actually. LR
door to 乐山 [Lèshān], where the big Buddhais.
Ah yes. [Voiceover]
Casey Hall, the fashion journalist from Episode 22.
[Clip]CH: I do love 四川 [Sìchuān] Province.
(14:56):
Many years ago, I went to 九寨沟 [Jiǔzhàigōu]National Park, which is just one of the most
spectacular places I've ever seen. A few yearsafter I went, there was a major earthquake,
which damaged the park. And I would be veryinterested to go back and see what it looks
like now, and see how different it is.OF: Yeah. I've heard that because of the earthquake,
(15:18):
the clear waters that you could see now areno longer clear, right? So I would imagine
you'd be disappointed going back, I wonder.CH: Yeah, maybe it's better not to. Maybe
it's better to keep the nice memory in mymind.
It’ll bounce back hopefully, right? But I just think nature just needs time, right?
CH (15:35):
Yeah, indeed. [Voiceover]
OF (15:38):
Danma Jyid, the Tibetan social enterprise leader from Episode 10.
[Clip]DJ: I really like Lhasa, central Tibet.
Yeah. DJ
style, and it made me feel really connectedto the culture. Yeah.
Yeah, I would love to go to Lhasa. [Voiceover]
(15:59):
Wendy Saunders, the architect from Episode 12.
[Clip]WS: Before I had kids, I used to travel a
lot more, I think. For me, the most surprising,then, trips that we made was to go to 新疆
[Xīnjiāng], to Kashgar. Just because, thelandscape is just amazing, so beautiful. But
it's also such a different China. It's a totallydifferent people. I still remember very clearly
(16:24):
the feelings that I had, when I was there.It's just so surprising.
Yeah. WS
[Voiceover]OF: Salome Chen, the investor and developer
from Episode 24.[Clip]
SC (16:37):
I will say the Silk Road. Yeah. I was born in 玉门 [Yùmén], close to 敦煌
[Dūnhuáng]. And not only because I was bornthere, I went there when I was 40 exactly,
for my birthday. And also my dad was 80, itwas more like a birthday gift for my dad.
Beautiful, yeah. And also, there are so manydifferent cultures there, there’s cultural
(17:03):
communication. Buddhism, Hinduism; you cansee the landscape change, the culture change,
the language change; and even people, theylook different. If you go deep into history,
the world becomes much much bigger.OF: Yes.
Yeah. [Voiceover]
OF (17:20):
Michelle Qu, the improvisational comedian from Episode 20.
[Clip]MQ: Last year I went to 泉州 [Quánzhōu]
in 福建 [Fújiàn] Province.OF: Right.
MQ (17:29):
Have you ever been there before? OF
had the first Muslims in China.MQ: Ah yeah, yeah. And when I was there, I
found out that it was not only Muslim in thatcity, but also some other religions. A very
old religion, how to say… people paid respectto fire.
OF (17:48):
Ah, Zoroastrianism. MQ
Oh wow, yeah. MQ
religion, they have their own space. Perfectly.With harmony, in that city. It’s very interesting.
I really love this kind of atmosphere.OF: I really want to go now.
MQ (18:10):
Yeah. [Voiceover]
OF (18:13):
Katherine Wong, the Peruvian healer from Episode 04.
[Clip]KW: 云南 [Yúnnán]. It is beautiful. I
feel the energies in that place are reallypure and amazing.
[Voiceover]OF: Vittorio Franzese, the lawyer from Episode
27.[Clip]
VF (18:31):
I was stunned by 云南 [Yúnnán]’s mountains. I found places where you can access
only with a Jeep that is driven by a localguy, that can bring you up in the mountain.
And that was pretty amazing. You arrive toa small village, and it's just a little mountain
village as you’ve imagined in your dreams.I felt for the first time that travelling
(18:54):
in China wasn't something too mainstream.I felt like you still can get to isolated
places, up on a mountain.[Voiceover]
OF (19:02):
Zhao Huiling, the Africa travel vlogger from Episode 28.
[Clip]ZH: 云南 [Yúnnán].
Yeah. ZH
big lake.OF: Yes.
ZH (19:14):
We watched the sun rise over that, and then we went to this very famous National
Park. It was very pristine.[Voiceover]
OF (19:24):
Alex Shoer, the clean energy entrepreneur from Episode 11.
[Clip]AS: Actually, one of the most incredible places
I've still been is this village of 喜洲[Xǐzhōu], China, which is near 大理 [Dàlǐ]
in 云南 [Yúnnán] Province, a very smallvillage. And it's actually the place that
I did my first project, at this place calledthe Linden Centre, which is an amazing historical
(19:47):
resort. And it's just one of the places Ifell in love with. And there's a lot of history,
a lot of amazing food, they have this thingcalled the 喜洲粑粑 [Xǐzhōu bābā]
which is this… It’s like a pizza, almost,but like in a 煎饼 [jiānbing] flavour.
I don't know how to describe it, but it'samazing.
Everyone loves 云南 [Yúnnán]. [Voiceover]
Zhang Yuan, the performance art exhibitor from Episode 07.
(20:10):
[Clip]ZY: 大理 [Dàlǐ]. It's like a utopia, or
it's like a hippie place, where you couldrelax yourself and to not think too much.
And people seem to think differently. Andthere are many artists working there. And
I like the fact that the clouds are so closeto you.
(20:32):
Oh right, nice. [Voiceover]
Crystyl Mo, the fine dining expert from Episode 26.
[Clip]CM: 云南 [Yúnnán], and 香格里拉 [‘Shangri-La’],
where it's the Switzerland of China. Absolutelystunning.
Every other person, when answering that question, says 云南 [Yúnnán]. I think
(20:53):
I should call this podcast ‘Mosaic of 云南[Yúnnán]’.
CM (20:57):
I would say, if everyone says 云南 [Yúnnán], then that's the right answer. I mean, 云南
[Yúnnán] is so diverse. I had my honeymoonin 西双版纳 [Xīshuāngbǎnnà], and we
were in the rain forest in an orchid forest.And then I've also been to the northern parts
around 香格里拉 [‘Shangri-La’] upinto the snow-capped mountains, you know,
all in one province.OF: Yes, and everything in between.
(21:17):
[Voiceover]OF: Vladimir Djurovic, the brand naming expert
from Episode 13.[Clip]
VD (21:24):
It's actually Inner Mongolia. I have the occasion to go there for a run about every
year - in a marathon in the grassland - ina small place called 西乌旗 [Xīwūqí].
You can easily get out of it, run out of it,and get into running in those green hills.
It's beautiful. There's occasion to see double,triple rainbows and to reconnect with the
(21:47):
elements. So I like the focus, I like thesimplicity of it. I like to walk on the street,
there are still some old cars because it'scloser to Russia, some Волга [Volga]
brand cars. So there's a bit of exoticism,but I'd like to run out of the city in the
hills.OF: Nice, yeah. I love the way French people
say ‘focus’. I love that.
(22:10):
[Outro]OF: And there you have it, all 30 guests from
Season 02 in one episode. I’m releasingthese compilation episodes every two weeks,
so we’ll be back with the next one on October12th, with the guests’ answers to the question
‘What is your favourite KTV karaoke song?”
Mosaic of China is me, Oscar Fuchs, with artworkby Denny Newell. And as a gift for listening
(22:35):
all the way until the end of today’s show,I’ll reward you with a special version of
the outro music.
[Clips]SW: Thank you very much.
JB (22:45):
Thank you, it’s been a pleasure. CC
KW (22:47):
Thank you so much. C
LR (22:50):
Thank you very much. ZY
JZ (22:52):
Thank you. SH
DJ (22:54):
Thank you. AS
WS (22:55):
Thank you. VD
NB (22:56):
Thank you. DT
CC (22:58):
Thank you. BD
JM (23:00):
Thank you very much. SH
MQ (23:02):
Thank you. AJ
CH (23:03):
Thank you. BO
SC (23:05):
Thank you. MK
CM (23:06):
Thank you. VF
ZH (23:07):
Thank you for having me. MK
J (23:09):
Thank you so much.
[Trailer]Sean HARMON: I mean, now it's getting so built
up, which is a bit of a shame.OF: Yes. People like you keep talking about
it, man.SH: I know, I know. And now I'm sitting here
saying it on podcast, which isn't helpingmy case I guess.
[Intro]OF: Welcome to Mosaic of China, a podcast
about people who are making their mark inChina. I’m your host, Oscar Fuchs.
(00:24):
So let me say right from the start that thisis not a regular episode. I’m taking some
time off from releasing regular weekly episodeswhile I produce the next season of the podcast.
If you’re a subscriber to the PREMIUM versionof the show - on Patreon internationally,
or on 爱发电 [Àifādiàn] in China - youwill already know this, because I’ve just
(00:45):
sent you the details of the first batch ofpeople I’m recording interviews with next
month. So if you want to get involved andhelp to pose questions for these future guests
of Season 03, now is the perfect time to subscribe.It costs just the equivalent of US$2 per month,
and that also gives you immediate access toall six hours of extra content from Season
(01:06):
02 as well.
So what is today’s episode all about? Well,if you’ve listened to at least one regular
episode from the season, you will know thatas part of each interview I ask every guest
the same 10 simple questions on their tastesand opinions of life in China. And it’s
the answers to these 10 questions that formthe content for not just today’s episode,
(01:29):
but the following 9 special compilation episodescoming up too. These compilations are a great
way to hear all 30 voices from Season 02 together,and to see how people from a variety of different
backgrounds approach the same topic. And ifyou didn’t listen to someone’s original
episode from earlier in the year, hopefullythis will nudge you to go back and check out
(01:49):
their full interview too.
Here in China, we’re just coming up to theOctober ‘Golden Week’ holidays, so it’s
perfect timing to talk about travel destinationsin mainland China. As you’re listening,
be sure to think about your own favouritetravel destination in China, and find a photo
to share with the Mosaic of China communityon social media. Or even share a snap from
(02:12):
wherever you might be on the road in Chinathis week. Just search for ‘Mosaic of China’
on Instagram or Facebook, or you can joinone of the listeners groups on WeChat. Search
for my WeChat ID (02:22):
mosaicofchina, and I’ll add you to the group myself.
Having said all that, let’s now get on withit, and listen to the answers to the question:
“What is your favourite destination withinmainland China?
[Main][Voiceover]
OF (02:37):
Jo McFarland, the product sourcing leader from Episode 18.
[Clip]JM: Well, see there's so many. However, one
of the advantages of the job is that we dogo to all parts of China. And there is a garden
furniture factory that's in an area called临海 [Línhǎi]. Have you ever been there?
Never heard of it. JM
(02:59):
countryside, and in the middle of it is afurniture factory.
Oh god. JM
to go to, because it's in such a beautifullocation.
That is nice. And are there any places that you have to go to as a sourcer, where
you're like “Oh god, do I have to go backthere?”
JM (03:13):
Do you know, I quite enjoy going to all those places, because they’ve all got different
Chinese character. I mean, in Shanghai everythingis so shiny and beautiful and fabulous. But
some of the places we go, it's much more gritty.And I actually really like that, because it
does remind you where you are.OF: Yeah.
Keep it real, Oscar. OF
(03:34):
[Voiceover]OF: Michael Kinsey, the fire engineer from
Episode 25.[Clip]
MK (03:39):
I think one of my favourite places is 浙江 [Zhèjiāng], as a province. Lots of
places of natural beauty. It's so close toShanghai as well. I've been whitewater rafting
there, I've been hiking there, you can goto 杭州 [Hángzhōu], I've been to different
islands just off the coast of 浙江 [Zhèjiāng].It's absolutely beautiful. And you can do
it all within a weekend, if you live in Shanghai.I think it's an amazing place.
(04:03):
[Voiceover]OF: Noxolo Bhengu, the African community organiser
from Episode 14.[Clip]
NB (04:10):
I'm so embarrassed. I haven't travelled a lot in China.
OF (04:15):
Really? NB
The further you get away from the city, thebetter.
Yeah. [Voiceover]
Jamie Barys, the street food expert from Episode 02.
[Clip]JB: Oh, there are so many good places, it’s
hard to pick one. But my most favourite placethat I've gone recently would be 宁夏 [Níngxià].
(04:36):
Oh. JB
my girlfriends to wine country. And we hadamazing food, amazing wine, just the most
hospitable people. You know, it's funny becausepeople are always like "Oh, Shanghainese people
are so mean” and I'm like “They're not!They're lovely!” And then you go to 宁夏
[Níngxià], and you're like “Oh, maybein comparison”, because they're just so
(04:57):
welcoming and so friendly.[Voiceover]
Chang Chihyun, the humanities professor from Episode 03.
[Clip]CC: I would say Shanghai.
OK. CC
Yeah. CC
Right. CC
[Sūzhōu]. So the Shanghainese are actuallythe combination of Ningbo-nese and Suzhou-nese.
(05:21):
And then all the foreign influences on top.
CC (05:23):
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And actually, Shanghainese collect a lot of Western languages like
it means an old gentleman who knows how toenjoy his petit bourgeois life. “Kala”
means ‘white collar’.OF: Oh ‘collar’, how funny.
Yeah, and when we say “xiaolaji”, ‘xiao’ is ‘little’, ‘laji’ means
(05:45):
‘undisciplined woman’, it’s… But anyway,‘laji’ is ‘laissez faire’.
OF (05:50):
Oh, right. CC
How funny. CC
Mmm. CC
And I guess because it is a city of immigrants, everyone here, from day one…
CC (06:02):
Yeah, no-one can claim that “I am a real local Shanghainese”. No.
[Voiceover]OF: Douglon Tse, the island businessman from
Episode 15.[Clip]
DT (06:14):
So this is the tricky part. Because China keeps changing.
OF (06:17):
Yeah. DT
is 滴水 [Dīshuǐ] lake.OF: Oh, right. That's somewhere in Shanghai,
right?DT: Yeah, right in between 嵊泗 [Shèngsì]
island and downtown Shanghai. And I rentedan apartment there earlier this year, because
I just, I really like 滴水 [Dīshuǐ] lake.It's like a mini young version of 深圳 [Shēnzhèn].
Just full of young people. In 滴水 [Dīshuǐ]lake, everyone's full of energy and just full
(06:40):
of growth potential.[Voiceover]
Ajay Jain, the car designer from Episode 21.
[Clip]AJ: Shanghai. I’ve travelled quite a bit
in China, I’ve moved around all my life,I've lived in many different places. Shanghai
gives me the impression that I'm living ina different city every day. Everything is
just constantly dynamic. The city reinventsitself, as it were. Five years ago, I was
(07:06):
in Pasadena, in the college that I went to,and these kids were drawing what they thought
was the future of transportation. And thenthey asked me how I went to work. And I told
him that I scan a QR code, and get on anybicycle, get on a metro, and get off the metro,
and take my Segway, and then zip into my office.And that sounded more futuristic than some
(07:28):
of the things that they were conceptualising.So…
Yeah. [Voiceover]
Cassandra Chen, the heavy metal bar owner from Episode 16.
[Clip]CC: I like 三亚 [Sānyà], lying on the
beach. I like 莫干山 [Mògànshān], whichis close to nature in the mountains.
Yeah. You spent a lot of time in Beijing. What do you think about Beijing?
CC (07:50):
It's big. People are more easy. OF
That’s right. OF
Yeah, like that, yeah. OF
a reputation for being a bit more complicated,right? They don't always say what they mean.
Yeah, that's right. [Voiceover]
OF (08:11):
Stéphane Wilmet, the head of consumer insights at L'Oreal from Episode 01.
[Clip]SW: I've been lucky to have travelled to many
places in China, but Beijing remains my favouritedestination. So much culture, so many places.
And also, of course, for me a lot of memories.It combines modernity and traditions. And
(08:36):
a friend of mine told me, quite rightly so,that if Shanghai is the heart of China, Beijing
is its head. It's the brain. It's a cold city,it’s a mysterious city, but it's a powerful
city, it’s an energising city, at the scaleof China.
Wow. [Voiceover]
(08:57):
Jiyoung, the transgender teacher from Episode 30.
[Clip]J: I don't have a particular favourite destination.
But a destination that I have recent enthusiasmfor is 海南 [Hǎinán] Province. Because
after my surgery, that's the place where Iwore my bikini in public for the first time.
And it was such a huge affirming aspect, tobe on the beaches, and to be seen in public.
(09:22):
So, at this point in time, that has a hugeplace in my heart.
[Voiceover]OF: Murray King, the public affairs leader
from Episode 29.[Clip]
MK (09:33):
平遥 [Píngyáo], 平遥古城 [Píngyáo Gǔchéng]. I think maybe others have said
that too.OF: No.
It's incredible. I would recommend it to anybody. You know, it's a walled city - about
six square kilometres - it rises up out ofthe agricultural plains of 山西 [Shānxī]
Province. And it is a tremendous experience,it feels like you're stepping into a 明 [Míng]
Dynasty movie. And within that walled city…It's a protected UNESCO World Heritage site,
(09:58):
so there's really no development on the outsideof the walled city. So it’s mostly just
farmland. Of course, there are a few touristthings that have popped up. But within the
walled city, there really are no cars. Youcan rent a bicycle, you can bike around the
city on the wall. There are lots of traditionalhotels, and restaurants, and great food, and
great people. And it’s just a wonderfulexperience.
OF (10:19):
The photos I saw from my friend's holiday there did show a mass of tourists, though.
So that's the one downside, right?MK: Well I was lucky enough to go 20 years
ago.OF: Ah.
[Voiceover]OF: Jovana Zhang, the handicrafts designer
from Episode 08.[Clip]
JZ (10:36):
I really love the Yellow Mountains, I really love that area there. That would be
some place, 碧山 [Bìshān], that we visitedso many times. Our friends, they have a beautiful
hotel there in the middle of the fields, thiswas an old oil factory before, really really
nice.OF: Wow.
[Voiceover]OF: Seth Harvey, the education coach from
(10:57):
Episode 19.[Clip]
OF (10:58):
What is your favourite destination within China?
SH (10:59):
重庆 [Chóngqìng] is a pretty cool city too. When I was there for a business
trip, it reminded me of the old kind of Shanghaithat I had first encountered, that I'd fallen
in love with. Now everything's more modernised,and it's changed, incrementally. But when
you go to 重庆 [Chóngqìng] it's kind oflike that “Aaahh.” It reminds you of the
past and it brings up those memories, andpeople are super friendly, and I feel like
I’m a representative, for not just Americans,but of all foreigners. And how I act, and
(11:24):
interact with people, kind of sets the statusquo in their mind of how all foreigners are.
OF (11:29):
Nice. But that's just you being nice to 重庆 [Chóngqìng], you actually still prefer
Shanghai.SH: A million times over.
[Voiceover]OF: Sean Harmon, the beer company CEO from
Episode 09.[Clip]
SH (11:43):
There are definitely more beautiful places in China than 莫干山 [Mògànshān], but
to me it's kind of a sentimental place. Imean, we've had a lot of our annual company
meetings there with our management team. Wecook together, we run together through the
mountains, we do walks, and we create thenew strategy for the new year. I also go there
with my friends, on weekends to get out ofthe city. To me, it has a very special place
(12:07):
in my heart. I mean, now it's getting so builtup, which is a bit of a shame.
OF (12:10):
Yes, yes. People like you keep talking about it, man.
SH (12:13):
I know, I know. And now I'm sitting here saying it on podcast, which isn't helping
my case I guess.[Voiceover]
OF (12:18):
DJ BO, the DJ from Episode 23. [Clip]
BO (12:24):
My favourite destination in China - we've touched upon this - is 武汉 [Wǔhàn]. It
was a city that I've been to more than anyother. I love Inferno in Shanghai, Temple
in Beijing. But 武汉 [Wǔhàn] Prison isthe coolest bar there. And every good bar
- every great bar, I should say - becomesthe personality of the manager. Her name is
(12:45):
Dong Dong, and she is an explosive characterthat can't really be characterised. Is she
20, is she 40? She wears these layers of clothing,she’s got these big dreadlocks, and she
cackles when she laughs, and 武汉 [Wǔhàn]Prison bar is almost a manifestation of who
she is.[Voiceover]
OF (13:06):
Björn Dahlman, the Swedish clown from Episode 17.
[Clip]BD: My heart will always be on 武当 [Wǔdāng]
mountain. But what I heard is that they didwhat they did in 少林 [Shàolín] mountain.
They banned all the schools on the mountains,and they built a village below, which is…
Ah.[Voiceover]
Cocosanti, the drag performer from Episode 05.
(13:29):
[Clip]C: My favourite place in China is any place
with a very large window and a coffee shop.Now, the reason being is because, I like going
on a train and going to a random city, findinga coffee shop, and just sitting by the window,
doing my work, and people-watching. That'sjust what I enjoy doing. I love doing it in
(13:54):
the U.S. as well.OF: I like that.
C (13:56):
Yeah. OF
Oh my god. Yeah. I'm a city girl. OF
Yeah, I did Boy Scouts, **** that. That's all.
[Voiceover]OF: Louise Roy, the childbirth and lactation
specialist from Episode 06.[Clip]
LR (14:13):
I don't get to travel much - I think you probably hear that from a lot of people in
healthcare, I don't travel a lot because babies,babies, babies, they’re just born all the
time - but I really enjoyed visiting, yearsback, 峨眉山 [Éméishān] and 乐山 [Lèshān].
I liked 峨眉山 [Éméishān] particularlybecause it just… I come from the Blue Mountains
in Australia…OF: Nice.
…And it felt like that laid-back mountain-y kind of thing.
OF (14:35):
Yes. LR
Province, are they?LR: Yes.
峨眉 [Éméi] I don’t know, actually. LR
door to 乐山 [Lèshān], where the big Buddhais.
Ah yes. [Voiceover]
Casey Hall, the fashion journalist from Episode 22.
[Clip]CH: I do love 四川 [Sìchuān] Province.
(14:56):
Many years ago, I went to 九寨沟 [Jiǔzhàigōu]National Park, which is just one of the most
spectacular places I've ever seen. A few yearsafter I went, there was a major earthquake,
which damaged the park. And I would be veryinterested to go back and see what it looks
like now, and see how different it is.OF: Yeah. I've heard that because of the earthquake,
(15:18):
the clear waters that you could see now areno longer clear, right? So I would imagine
you'd be disappointed going back, I wonder.CH: Yeah, maybe it's better not to. Maybe
it's better to keep the nice memory in mymind.
It’ll bounce back hopefully, right? But I just think nature just needs time, right?
CH (15:35):
Yeah, indeed. [Voiceover]
OF (15:38):
Danma Jyid, the Tibetan social enterprise leader from Episode 10.
[Clip]DJ: I really like Lhasa, central Tibet.
Yeah. DJ
style, and it made me feel really connectedto the culture. Yeah.
Yeah, I would love to go to Lhasa. [Voiceover]
(15:59):
Wendy Saunders, the architect from Episode 12.
[Clip]WS: Before I had kids, I used to travel a
lot more, I think. For me, the most surprising,then, trips that we made was to go to 新疆
[Xīnjiāng], to Kashgar. Just because, thelandscape is just amazing, so beautiful. But
it's also such a different China. It's a totallydifferent people. I still remember very clearly
(16:24):
the feelings that I had, when I was there.It's just so surprising.
Yeah. WS
[Voiceover]OF: Salome Chen, the investor and developer
from Episode 24.[Clip]
SC (16:37):
I will say the Silk Road. Yeah. I was born in 玉门 [Yùmén], close to 敦煌
[Dūnhuáng]. And not only because I was bornthere, I went there when I was 40 exactly,
for my birthday. And also my dad was 80, itwas more like a birthday gift for my dad.
Beautiful, yeah. And also, there are so manydifferent cultures there, there’s cultural
(17:03):
communication. Buddhism, Hinduism; you cansee the landscape change, the culture change,
the language change; and even people, theylook different. If you go deep into history,
the world becomes much much bigger.OF: Yes.
Yeah. [Voiceover]
OF (17:20):
Michelle Qu, the improvisational comedian from Episode 20.
[Clip]MQ: Last year I went to 泉州 [Quánzhōu]
in 福建 [Fújiàn] Province.OF: Right.
MQ (17:29):
Have you ever been there before? OF
had the first Muslims in China.MQ: Ah yeah, yeah. And when I was there, I
found out that it was not only Muslim in thatcity, but also some other religions. A very
old religion, how to say… people paid respectto fire.
OF (17:48):
Ah, Zoroastrianism. MQ
Oh wow, yeah. MQ
religion, they have their own space. Perfectly.With harmony, in that city. It’s very interesting.
I really love this kind of atmosphere.OF: I really want to go now.
MQ (18:10):
Yeah. [Voiceover]
OF (18:13):
Katherine Wong, the Peruvian healer from Episode 04.
[Clip]KW: 云南 [Yúnnán]. It is beautiful. I
feel the energies in that place are reallypure and amazing.
[Voiceover]OF: Vittorio Franzese, the lawyer from Episode
27.[Clip]
VF (18:31):
I was stunned by 云南 [Yúnnán]’s mountains. I found places where you can access
only with a Jeep that is driven by a localguy, that can bring you up in the mountain.
And that was pretty amazing. You arrive toa small village, and it's just a little mountain
village as you’ve imagined in your dreams.I felt for the first time that travelling
(18:54):
in China wasn't something too mainstream.I felt like you still can get to isolated
places, up on a mountain.[Voiceover]
OF (19:02):
Zhao Huiling, the Africa travel vlogger from Episode 28.
[Clip]ZH: 云南 [Yúnnán].
Yeah. ZH
big lake.OF: Yes.
ZH (19:14):
We watched the sun rise over that, and then we went to this very famous National
Park. It was very pristine.[Voiceover]
OF (19:24):
Alex Shoer, the clean energy entrepreneur from Episode 11.
[Clip]AS: Actually, one of the most incredible places
I've still been is this village of 喜洲[Xǐzhōu], China, which is near 大理 [Dàlǐ]
in 云南 [Yúnnán] Province, a very smallvillage. And it's actually the place that
I did my first project, at this place calledthe Linden Centre, which is an amazing historical
(19:47):
resort. And it's just one of the places Ifell in love with. And there's a lot of history,
a lot of amazing food, they have this thingcalled the 喜洲粑粑 [Xǐzhōu bābā]
which is this… It’s like a pizza, almost,but like in a 煎饼 [jiānbing] flavour.
I don't know how to describe it, but it'samazing.
Everyone loves 云南 [Yúnnán]. [Voiceover]
Zhang Yuan, the performance art exhibitor from Episode 07.
(20:10):
[Clip]ZY: 大理 [Dàlǐ]. It's like a utopia, or
it's like a hippie place, where you couldrelax yourself and to not think too much.
And people seem to think differently. Andthere are many artists working there. And
I like the fact that the clouds are so closeto you.
(20:32):
Oh right, nice. [Voiceover]
Crystyl Mo, the fine dining expert from Episode 26.
[Clip]CM: 云南 [Yúnnán], and 香格里拉 [‘Shangri-La’],
where it's the Switzerland of China. Absolutelystunning.
Every other person, when answering that question, says 云南 [Yúnnán]. I think
(20:53):
I should call this podcast ‘Mosaic of 云南[Yúnnán]’.
CM (20:57):
I would say, if everyone says 云南 [Yúnnán], then that's the right answer. I mean, 云南
[Yúnnán] is so diverse. I had my honeymoonin 西双版纳 [Xīshuāngbǎnnà], and we
were in the rain forest in an orchid forest.And then I've also been to the northern parts
around 香格里拉 [‘Shangri-La’] upinto the snow-capped mountains, you know,
all in one province.OF: Yes, and everything in between.
(21:17):
[Voiceover]OF: Vladimir Djurovic, the brand naming expert
from Episode 13.[Clip]
VD (21:24):
It's actually Inner Mongolia. I have the occasion to go there for a run about every
year - in a marathon in the grassland - ina small place called 西乌旗 [Xīwūqí].
You can easily get out of it, run out of it,and get into running in those green hills.
It's beautiful. There's occasion to see double,triple rainbows and to reconnect with the
(21:47):
elements. So I like the focus, I like thesimplicity of it. I like to walk on the street,
there are still some old cars because it'scloser to Russia, some Волга [Volga]
brand cars. So there's a bit of exoticism,but I'd like to run out of the city in the
hills.OF: Nice, yeah. I love the way French people
say ‘focus’. I love that.
(22:10):
[Outro]OF: And there you have it, all 30 guests from
Season 02 in one episode. I’m releasingthese compilation episodes every two weeks,
so we’ll be back with the next one on October12th, with the guests’ answers to the question
‘What is your favourite KTV karaoke song?”
Mosaic of China is me, Oscar Fuchs, with artworkby Denny Newell. And as a gift for listening
(22:35):
all the way until the end of today’s show,I’ll reward you with a special version of
the outro music.
[Clips]SW: Thank you very much.
JB (22:45):
Thank you, it’s been a pleasure. CC
KW (22:47):
Thank you so much. C
LR (22:50):
Thank you very much. ZY
JZ (22:52):
Thank you. SH
DJ (22:54):
Thank you. AS
WS (22:55):
Thank you. VD
NB (22:56):
Thank you. DT
CC (22:58):
Thank you. BD
JM (23:00):
Thank you very much. SH
MQ (23:02):
Thank you. AJ
CH (23:03):
Thank you. BO
SC (23:05):
Thank you. MK
CM (23:06):
Thank you. VF
ZH (23:07):
Thank you for having me. MK
J (23:09):
Thank you so much.
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