It is quite common in China that when you sign up for a local group tour in Chinese, you are inevitably brought also to some free tours which are included into the package at no additional to see tea, silk and jade factories. Initially I was quite frustrated about this arrangement. But that’s one of the reasons group tours are so cheap in China. How else can half a day tour to the see the Great Wall of China in Beijing be RMB 100 (USD16)?
Well, after a couple of years I got used to it and this is how it goes. You will be introduced to the general manager of the factory who will welcome you to the premises. A product or marketing expert will give you a tour of the factory and introduce you to its various products. Finally the tour will end in a large supermarket where they will be selling various kinds of souvenirs and products. The last door in the supermarket will open to the carpark where your bus will be waiting. I know its like a detour from your tour but its a system at work. You simply have to follow it. Else you can always choose a private and customised group tour and pay substantially for it USD rates. Most local people will go along with the routine always.
In this particular routine I am talking about, my family and myself were in Beijing in 2011 and were brought to see a jade factory as part of a tour package to see the Great Wall of China. The jade factory had rows of workstations each with a lathe machine and some tools. Master craftsmen were busy carving jade stones into beautiful intricate designs. That’s where I learned that there are many different types of jade stones and sometimes cheap ones can be passed on as expensive ones. Therefore if you are planning to buy jade jewels, well maybe one day, its better to bring someone along who is knowledgable in jade stones.
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