I recently spent a week in China with Kyle (my son) and some of the rest of the team to visit our Peluva factories and suppliers. These are my observations.

Two sides. On the one hand, they generally work hard in the factories (12 hour days, six days a week, with a month or two off each year for Chinese New Year). Workers seem very focused on getting "ahead" and have a strong work ethic (you have to have one to be able to do that kind of work at a high level for a long time). Despite what appear to be labor-intensive factories I visited, the equipment is top-notch and the tech is extremely impressive. Rooms in a downtown factory on the 6th floor with 100 + weaving machines at $250,000 per machine. Cutting machines, sewing machines, mould-cutting machines, pressing machines, etc. This is real skilled labor, willing to work for a small fraction of what it would cost in the USA. To that end, China will outdo us in most manufacturing scenarios for a while into the future. No amount of tariffs can force that kind of apparel industry back to the USA and be cost competitive.

They have amazing infrastructure and seem to use technology more effectively than we do. Extremely impressive elevators, fast bullet trains, more efficient traffic signals and toll collection set ups. And, for better or worse, cameras everywhere, facial recognition, an intense and overarching security apparatus. The government knows where you are every second.

On the other hand, I'm not sure they are allowed to even compare their situation to Westerners. There's no Instagram, no Google, none of the sites and apps we take for granted and rely on here. So I don't think the average person is even aware of what's possible or happening over here. They seem content with the basics: a roof over their heads, a cell phone, a TV, food in their bellies and access to transportation. The rest of life's enjoyment is up to them. Just like it does everywhere, having more money doesn't mean you love your kids more, or enjoy a walk in the park more. That's all up to you and your life philosophy. And yes, there is an upper class. I shopped in malls where I would have thought I was in Beverly Hills.

Where I was in the south around Guangzhou, it is densely populated. No houses, just thousands of apartment buildings. Dozens of cities with between 4 million and 15 million people living in them. I did notice lots of empty apartment buildings, so not sure if the real estate problems have shifted things fully yet. Maybe these were gearing up for more growth.

The food was "fine". Only ate at a few real Chinese food places since we were on a mission (8am to 7pm everyday in factories, suppliers, meetings or traveling to meetings). Nothing stood out, if I'm being honest, but I also wasn't here to experience and explore the cuisine. It was a work trip through and through. For me, that meant not straying too far from foods I am familiar with. Stayed in Westernized hotels, and was able to get two workouts in during that week. That was enough to carry me, along with all the walking.

If I ever have the opportunity, I'd like to explore the country (or a section of the country) at a more leisurely pace. How about you, folks? Ever go to China? Let me know on Instagram.