Adrian Morton was invited on an interesting and enthralling trip to China to see Yutong’s immense factory; in the first of two instalments, he begins his trip and sees some other famous sights
In late April I was very kindly invited by Pelican Bus & Coach to join a customer visit to China to view Yutong’s extensive manufacturing facilities in Zhengzhou, along with a number of well-known UK operators. Those joining me on the trip were Pelican’s Area Sales Managers Amelia Crump and Lee McMahon, Ross Maloney from Aureus (a broker and payment services specialist), Jamie Ndlovu and his wife Joanne from TJ’s Travel, Philip Hitchen from Belle Vue Coaches, Jonathan Hunt from Roberts Travel Group, Andy Leyland from Johnsons of Henley-in-Arden and Danny Matthews and Akhtar Ali of LandFlight in Birmingham.
The hospitality afforded to us by Pelican and Yutong was second to none, with Mercedes-Benz chauffeur-driven cars collecting us from our individual homes in the UK ready for our business class flights with Emirates to the Chinese capital, Beijing. On arrival at the airport we were met by Clelia Jin, Head of the China Office at Pelican, and transferred by a local coach operator in one of its Yutong TC9s to the Regent Hotel in the city for our one night stay.
Our flight landed around an hour late with immigration taking two hours to accomplish, which meant a very quick freshen up before a short walk to the Beijing Da Dong for supper. Awarded a Michelin star, the restaurant has been touted one of the city’s finest and is frequented by such personalities as Bill Clinton and Elon Musk.
The meticulously prepared Beijing Duck, as is traditional, was carved in front of us with the delicately crisp skin recommended to be dipped in sugar. Both skin and meat melted effortless in the mouth and when combined with the spring onion, cucumber, customary melon and sweet bean sauce, culminated in what only be described an experience to behold!
A long day
After some drinks in the lavish hotel bar it was soon touching midnight in the Asian capital thus time to retire to our comfortable rooms. Following a satisfying breakfast we re-boarded our Yutong TC9 for a trip to Mutianyu and a visit to the Great Wall of China, about an hour’s drive from Beijing. This was a truly awe inspiring experience, essentially built as a series of fortifications. With construction beginning in 220BC, and spanning over 21,000km, it’s easy to understand why the wall is one of the most impressive architectural feats in history. I can now lay claim to having visited three of the Seven Wonders of the World, and on reflection I don’t consider I’ll ever see the remainder!
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