Travelling to China next week for investment scouting trip. Would love to hear any great suggestions on any of the following cities (outside the ordinary!): Shenzhen, Xian, Shanghai, Beijing... as well as Hong Kong, Macau. Cheers!

Indeed, the negotiating way in China is really different than in the occidental part of the world. The key to succeed in China to negotiate is having patience, perseverance and a log-term approach.
Before started the negotiation, you have to know that each Chinese executive has an important network of contacts (guanxi) that works on basis of personal favors and commitments. It's essential in order to negotiate to hire an agent or look for an partner
with the right connections.
Chinese people are also extremely suspicious. They will request a lot of information from the other party. But be careful to don't give any confidential information since sooner or later some Chinese business competitor will use it.
You have also to be prepared for a lot of questions. It's a tactic that they use to check the truthfulness and commitment of the proposals they receive.
An last thing to know is that for Chinese, honor is more important than power and money. You should to avoid comments or arguments that show them up to the rest of the group. Face-saving is vital when negotiating in China. Good luck!!!

Hi There! I'm very interested in China. Can you tell us what were you're feelings while there? What do they thought about an Ocidental went there to trade? Where it easy? Did you finished any deal? The approach to do business with Chinese company's sounds diferent from Ocidental ones. Is this true?
Regards,
Artur

China is the most dynamic, vital, extraordinary placed I've ever visited or done business. I truly felt, the entire time I was there, America was the embodiment of the 20th century... and China is truly the 21st century. All business, all the time, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week... building, skyscrapers for as far as the eye can see. Shanghai, 18 million people, makes Manhattan look like a small village! Also, the corporate tax rates are about half what they are in the UK (1/10th of what they are in France!)... and taxes on small businesses are almost zero! From what I have read and what I saw, China will surpass the United States in total GDP within the next 4 years... they are already at 11 trillion dollars, the US at 17 trillion... but China is growing at 10/11% per year. It is practically a pure capitalist society (despite the Communist government!).

Yes, we did make many contacts... and the trip was really a fact gathering trip for investing in equities in China... there are some excellent bargains out there and I will be putting a substantial portion of my stock portfolio in Chinese stock -- you can't buy Chinese stock directly but you can buy depository receipts on the international market.

I left with the impression that there is no end in sight for Chinese growth. 20, 30 years ago, China was a poor not-yet-developing country. Today, it is the most vigourous, exciting place on earth. We have not seen growth like this, in such a short time, at any time in the history of the world. Truly, magnificent.

Just for your information if interested (cf: APereira): if you want to create links with Chinese people from Europe you can use the ChinaLink network from Viadeo.
Of course it's always better to go in China, it's a project for my futur!
Regards,
Michel