The area near the Tatung factory in Wujiang is an intensely industrial area.  As you drive down the streets, you see factory after factory of major companies like Delta (power supplies), Hitachi, CalComp, and so forth.

 

All along here, there is a ton of construction happening.  New factories are being built, and in at least one place one of the major companies is building a large hotel to accommodate clients coming to the area to visit the factory (this is, in fact, how the Tongli Lakeview Hotel where I stayed was constructed).

 

Interestingly, all the construction scaffolding is made of bamboo.  I had read that this was the practice in much of Asia, so it was great to see it in person.  (See my China photos page for pictures!)

 

The other interesting thing about the factories is that many of them (all?) have large dormitories on the premises.  I gather that these are used largely for the Taiwanese workers who come to the factories.  Many of these companies are Taiwan-owned, so they have lots of staff (largely in management) who come to live for long periods.  

 

The dormitories also house the cafeterias.  During my days at the Tatung factory, I have been eating at the cafeteria for lunch.  The food is quite good.  It’s traditional Chinese food, served in the family style with a big pot of soup in the center and multiple plates of different choices on a Lazy Suzan.  You start by picking up a rice bowl and some metal chopsticks from the cabinet, get some rice from the cooker, and then put the food onto the rice to eat.  When you’re finished with the rice, you put some soup in the bowl.  Or, at least for a Westerner like me, use a second bowl for simultaneous soup and rice!

 

I notice that they don’t seem to be big on beverages here.  No beverages are available in the cafeteria, and I didn’t see anybody with any sort of drink.  Tomorrow I will bring my own bottle of water.

 

Smell of the day.

I want to emphasize again that I am not intending this to be derogatory in any way.  But, there’s not really any way to put too fine a point on it.  Today’s smell of the day out by the factories was sewage.  Not really strong, but there you go.