On Saturday we we given an overview of Li & Fung's retail operations which are only focused within China. The retail operations consist of Circle K convenience stores, Saint Honore (a Western inspired bakery goods operation), Trinity (which holds many high-end men's luxury designer names), and the license to all Toys R Us in Asia. With every passing day the operations of Li & Fung Group seem continue to grow yet with so much involvement in many of our lives with the products we purchase it is amazing that this company goes unheard of. After an informative breakdown of the company structure pertaining the LF Retailing we were given the opportunity to see first hand these retailing operations. Our first stop was Toys R Us and then to the Ocean Terminal which is the largest mall in Hong Kong and is home to much of the Trinity brand portfolio.
For more information on the Trinity Brand Portfolio: http://www.trinity-limited.com/home.html
The following day, Sunday, March 28, we had brunch with two UW alum, Jeffrey and Christine Fang, owners of GRI Retail in China. Mr. Fang delivered a crash course on his outlook for the retail sector in China during the next decade and raised awareness to changing governmental policies affecting Chinese consumerism.
After brunch we headed off to our rooms for a quick change of clothing as we were going to be sight seeing the rest of the day. Our first visit was to the Po Lin Monastery, located in Ngong Ping on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. Originally, the Buddhist monastery was built by three monks and was initially called Da Maopeng. In 1924, however, it was renamed Po Lin Monastery. About 70 years later, the Po Lin Monastery has become one of the most renowned and most popular tourist destinations in Hong Kong.
Tian Tan Buddha also known as the Big Buddha symbolizes the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and religion. The Buddha statue sits on a lotus throne on top of a three-platform altar. It is surrounded by six smaller bronze statues known as "The Offering of the Six Devas" and are posed offering flowers, incense, lamp, ointment, fruit, and music to the Buddha. These offerings symbolize charity, morality, patience, zeal, meditation, and wisdom, all of which are necessary to enter into nirvana.
Our next stop was Victoria's Peak which sits atop the tallest mountain in Hong Kong. The panoramic vista from the Lion Pavilion is one of the most beautiful scenes in the world, especially at night. Standing upon the pavilion and overlooking the Victoria Harbor and the Kowloon Peninsula, a spectacular view will unfold in front of your eyes. In the background rows upon rows of skyscrapers stand prominently on the Central District which is Hong Kong's financial and economic hub.
The final stop after our descent from the mountain was Victoria Harbor where we watched the famous Symphony of Lights. The show is a synchronized building exterior decorative light and laser multimedia display, featuring 44 buildings on both sides of the harbor accompanied by music.
~Michael Nemmetz and Brian Reinke
1 comment:
Circle K is not a Bakery Company in the west, it is a convenience store.
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