By Craig Wasko

Excel Sino Trading Co., Ltd. http://excelsino.com

I first arrived in Ningbo from Houston, USA, in June 2003.  I was immediately impressed by Lishe Airport’s modern style.  It was large, clean, and airy.  I was a bit apprehensive about coming to China, but the airport was a good beginning.  As we drove into the city, I noticed that street signs were in English.

I was visiting Ningbo to inspect my company’s light switch factory.  My first visit was for one week, and my second visit was for one month.  I had no impression of China before I came here, and I was surprised because the city of Ningbo was contemporary.  Tian Yi Square was especially modern, with its international brands and wide-open spaces.  The water and light show was extraordinary – I had only seen a similar show at Disney World in Florida.  At the same time, I was pleased to see that traditional Chinese buildings had been preserved.  In my own country, too many historical structures have been destroyed to clear land for new construction.

Of course, the factory managers took me to dinner.  We have “Chinese food” in America, but it is very different from authentic Chinese food in China!  The yellow croaker served with soup is the best fish I have ever eaten...and my hometown is oceanside.  The chicken soup (huo zhong quan ji) was also excellent.  However, I needn’t limit myself to local food because all eight schools of Chinese cooking are available in Ningbo. If I feel the need for foreign food, Ningbo has many international restaurants with different cuisines such as Italian, Indian, Brazilian, Thai, and so on. 

I was pleased with the friendliness and businesslike manner of Ningbonese people.  They were ready to help me do business.  Some cities’ people are indifferent and won’t help.  Taxi drivers were patient when I couldn’t tell them where to go (and taxi drivers can be rude).  Restaurant staff assisted me when I didn’t know the names of food.  Even people in the street helped me when I became lost.  Ningbo has a great environment for investment, and I recommend it to all my classmates and friends at home.

In April 2004, I moved to Ningbo and rented an apartment.  I soon ran into a problem – I couldn’t read Chinese, so I didn’t know where to go, or what to do.  I kept a stack of business cards in my wallet.  If I wanted to go to a restaurant or pub, I showed the taxi driver the business card.  However, it was difficult to find new places to visit.  There was little information in English, except for the Ningbo government.  Thus, I created NingboGuide.com, Ningbo’s first English-language city guide website.  It has information about restaurants, shopping, nightlife, and transportation, as well as maps and other features.  Every location has a page with directions for the taxi driver that you can print.  It’s a great resource and I hope that it can grow with Ningbo.

In the two years that I have lived in China, I have visited many Chinese cities.  I can report that Ningbo has the best “quality of life”.  Pollution has decreased.  Traffic is so feeble, it is a joke.  Ningbo is a safe place and I never feel endangered, unlike in my hometown.  The scenery of Ningbo is pleasant, with more trees than I have seen in any other city.  There is no “concrete jungle” here.  The city is not too small, and not too large.  The weather is temperate, though a little hot in summer.  The Zhejiang education system produces graduates that are suitable for work in foreign enterprises.  The local government understands the needs of foreign business, and helps them rather than hinders them.  Ningbo is a great place to conduct business.