JK Business Trip — Taiyuan, China

A long-overdue business trip to China.

This time, our destination was Taiyuan (太原).

Not exactly a famous tourist spot —
a city I had never even heard of before. ^^;;

A quick Google search revealed
that the city was rich in underground resources like coal,
and up until about a decade ago,
enormous sums of money flowed through it.

It may not be what it once was,
but it remains a city with abundant mineral resources.

There were no direct flights, so I transferred in Shanghai and arrived late at night.
Exhausted, I barely unpacked before collapsing into bed.
With an early morning schedule ahead, I got up bright and early
and pulled back the hotel curtains to find —

A brilliant blue sky and a stunning view welcoming me.

As if to say, 'Hey there! First time in Taiyuan?' haha

At first glance,
it looked just like the Han River with the new city developments surrounding it.

Despite being an inland city,
the air was surprisingly clean
and everything felt neatly organized.

For the hotel breakfast,
I had a simple meal of noodles, bread, and coffee.

Apparently, that bread is the most common breakfast food among Chinese people.

Fresh out of the oil — a little greasy yet surprisingly plain-tasting.
Better than it looked, honestly.

The event was held in the twin building right next to the hotel,
which made getting there very convenient.

The lobby on the ground floor alone was incredibly tall and spacious.

In the waiting room, I had some tea
and went over the materials I had brought.

The event's overall director — someone I had previously met in Korea —
it was especially wonderful to see them again. ^^

A little embarrassing, but...
we managed to get a proper commemorative photo together with Deputy Manager Jackie and Coordinator Mi-young. haha

I took my seat just as the event was getting underway.

Far more guests than the organizers had anticipated showed up,
and I was truly grateful for their interest. :)

I carefully checked to make sure nothing was missing from the materials I had prepared...

The emcee's opening remarks kicked things off!

'Dàjiā hǎo~~!'

As I learned afterward,
attendance far exceeded the expected 100 people,
with around 150 guests showing up.
I'm deeply grateful. haha

After a brief introduction and remarks from the director,
Deputy Manager Jackie took the floor for his presentation.

As expected from a true professional — engaging and not the least bit boring.

Finally, it was my turn.
I stepped onto the stage with Coordinator Mi-young, who would serve as my ears and voice!

I finished the presentation without a hitch and then took questions from the audience.

The guests asked very actively about things they had always been curious about.

With the morning schedule wrapped up smoothly,
we had a simple lunch at the staff cafeteria.

Apparently the menu featured dishes characteristic of the local region.

The noodles especially came highly recommended.
They were thick and chewy, similar to Korean kalguksu,
and you mixed two different sauces together before eating.

A braised potato in soy sauce & a stir-fried tomato sauce —
the combination was subtly, surprisingly delicious. :)

After the meal, I rested briefly in the VIP-only lounge
before diving straight into the afternoon schedule.

One-on-one consultations with pre-booked VIP clients.

By the time the hectic afternoon schedule was done,
it was already past 6 in the evening.

Time for dinner with all the hardworking staff and partners.

I'd actually been tipped off beforehand to keep lunch light
so I could fully enjoy the evening meal —
so the anticipation was very real. haha

Good company and a good occasion — drinks are non-negotiable.

Tiny pitcher, tiny cup —
the size of a children's toy tea set. haha

Apparently it's Chinese (or at least local) etiquette to toast together for the first three rounds.
After that, everyone drinks at their own pace. haha

When your cup is empty, you simply refill it yourself —
no need to keep an eye on others' glasses,
and no one has to walk across the table with a bottle to pour for you.

Such a comfortable, sensible custom — I was genuinely impressed.