Author: Nohely Peraza
On May 16 we traveled from Tianjin to Fuping by bus, about a 3 hour drive. Fuping is located in a more rural area of China. General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Fuping County in December 2012. Fuping had been considered one of the poorest villages in the country, and the government worked with local officials to increase access to basic needs such as food, medical care, housing, and jobs. We visited a village the following day, on Saturday, May 17th, but on Friday we got an introduction to the region through its food, workers, and history.
When we arrived in town for lunch, we passed by a wedding celebration on our way to our dining room. It was so beautiful to see the red colors and hear the firecrackers honoring the newlyweds! Every single meal we have had has been delicious and expanded our taste palettes.
After lunch, we visited a processed foods factory. The factory packaged fresh, locally-grown produce as well as ready-to-eat foods such as noodles and dumplings. Due to an increase in work productivity and the busy nature of family life, the demand for dried instant meals has increased. It was very interesting to see the flow between machine and manual labor, a juxtaposition we reflected on greatly throughout this trip, but especially in Fuping.
We then visited a factory that produced school uniforms. We saw how the material is cut using laser technology, is sorted for workers to assemble and sew, and transported on hangers to another floor for inspection and packaging.
We also visited the museum that walked us through the history of school uniforms in China. A member of our group, Jeremy, played around with the settings on an AI uniform generator, and created ideas for Eastside uniforms!
After seeing how school uniforms are made, we made a brief stop at United Uniform Manufacturers, which makes uniforms for military, police officers, nurses and doctors, etc. We even saw a California Highway Patrol uniform, over 6,000 miles from home. This definitely puts into perspective seeing the words “Made in China” on our clothing and other goods. This experience enhanced our understanding of mass production, shipping, and at its core, the hard work of Chinese locals who are providing for their families and who have witnessed major changes to their local communities.
After the factories, we went to the Baoding Jinjachi Border Region Revolutionary Memorial Hall, which commemorated the Chinese Communist Party’s guerilla warfare tactics and victory over the Nationalist Party during the Chinese civil war.
The museum was built to recognize Chairman Mao’s presence in this region during the war. We walked around the room he stayed in during this time period. It was chilling to be surrounded by the mountains where this history took place. We were struck by the graphic images of the violence endured by Chinese civilians during the time of Japanese occupation.
We then had a short ride to the hotel, where we ate dinner and then had free time to explore the local area. I went with some friends to the mall, and communicated with the help of gestures and my translation app to buy a pair of shoes.
Day 4 took us deeper into the heart of China. From factory floors to powerful moments in history, we saw firsthand the resilience, innovation, and hard work that shape communities like Fuping. Each stop reminded us that behind every product and place, there are stories—and people—worth honoring. Another successful day!
Checkout Day 4 (Pt. 2): Fuping’s Work, War, and Welcome by Lorenzo Lopez
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