Promoting Unicycling in China

Here is a report on my trip to China, from June 30 to July 8, where I engaged 
in various unicycle promoting activities in my new job as the Executive 
Director of International Development:

CONTENTS:

    1. Unicycling in Nanking
    2. Meeting with CUA in Beijing
    3. UNICON X racing results, finally!
    4. China Team to Unicon XI
    5. Korea  Team to Unicon XI
    6. China Team to World Games
    7. Exporting Chinese unicycles

1. UNICYCLING IN NANKING

    I am sure that everyone one has heard of Nanking, a city of around six 
    million (near Shanghai) where the Japanese committed unspeakable 
    atrocities in the late thirties (more on this later if you are 
    interested).

    I went to the central plaza of Nanking and used my usual techniques for 
    starting unicycling in a new city (or country) where I have no contacts. 
	(toward evening as in the day the intense heat reaches 40 degree centigrade). 
    I rode around a bit in the plaza, and soon enough 10, 20 and eventually a 
    couple of hundred people were standing around watching my show. A couple 
    of things that never fail to work is taking a kid on your shoulders and 
    kickup mounts.

    One thing led to another and a few people were trying to learn. I got one 
    college student almost riding, and a few more strongly interested. Three 
    of us went off to McDonald's and planned the establishment of a Nanking 
    Branch of the CUA. 

    Unfortunately I don't have pictures of my demonstration in Nanking but 
    here is something similar. A few days later I performed in Tiananmen then 
    Wangfujing, a beautiful shopping center in the heart of Beijing. You can 
    see the pictures at:

    http://www.kanji.org/kanji/jack/travel/images/nanjing/beijing.htm

    I followed this up in Beijing by arranging for them to get unicycles and 
    help in setting up and organizing unicycling activities in Nanking. 
    Fortunately, one of the fellows knows some English and has email. His 
    name is Jiang Shan (surname preceeds first name in Chinese and I follow 
    convention). His email address is bruce.js@sohu.com. The second fellow's 
    name is Han Chengkai (he has no email). I just called Jiang Shan from 
    Japan and Zhang and I are helping him get organized. I wish them both 
    success in getting unicycling off the ground in Nanking.
    
    To see all the pictures of the trip, go to:

    http://www.kanji.org/kanji/jack/travel/unipicts.htm

2. MEETNG WITH CUA IN BEIJING

    The CUA was nice enough to put me up in a government hotel in central 
    Beijing. Zhang Shuxiao, the vice president of CUA,  had a couple of 
    meetings. Unfotunately, CUA preside not Chen Zhenhui was not available 
    at the time. But Zhang Shuxiao is the main force behind unicycling in 
    China and the meeting  was successful. 
    
    Here is a picture of us a real good pizza shop in central Beijing:

    http://www.kanji.org/kanji/jack/travel/images/nanjing/Jack_Zhang.jpg
    
    Below is a summary of our discussions.

3. UNICON X RESULTS
        
        The looooong awaited racing results for UNICPON X are safely in my
        hands, and a copy is on its way by airmail to Andy Cotter as I write.
        Zhang assured me that it reflects the latest changes, including the 
        many changes made by handwritng on the last day in the hotel lobby.
        But that nevertheless there are some inaccuracies left.
        
        I am tried  to get an electronic version -- no luck yet but there is
        some hope. I guess if people want copies they should turn to Andy....
        Of course I can send too but airmail from Japan is kind of 
        expensive.
        
4. CHINA TEAM TO UNICON XI
        
        I discussed Unicon XI with Zhang and encouraged him to help organize
        a large China Team. He said he would be happy to do so, and said that
        he estimates the team will consist of about 30 members. I gave him
        the provisional materials prepared by Tom Daniels and explained the
        event. As soon as I get something more official I will translate it 
        into Chinese and have it distributed among Chinese unicyclists.
        
5. KOREA TEAM TO UNICON XI
    
        Zhang Shuxiao told me that a unicycle company in China exported 1000
        unicycles to Korea last month. It was done through a trade company 
        and is difficult for him to find out the names of the people involved
        in Korea, but he is trying.
        
        I plan to go to Korea next month in an attempt to make contacts there
        and organize a Korea Team to Unicon XI. I have a couple of people 
        investigating the Korean Internet for contacts. Sadly, we lost all 
        contact with the Korean who attended Unicon III in Tokyo on 1987 
        (I tried unsuccessfully several times).
        
        If anyone has any leads whatsoever about unicyclists in Korea, I would
        very much appreciate it if you could send me the information.

6. CHINA TEAM TO WORLD GAMES
        
        There is a chance that Zhang Shuxiao will take two or three 
        unicyclists with him to attend the World Games Unicycle Convention.
        I have prepared letters of invitation and am helping the Chinese
        participate.
        
7. EXPORTING CHINESE UNICYCLES

    There are at least two unicycle factories in China: one in Hebei and
    one in Shanghai. They do not export to the west, according to Zhang 
    Shuxiao, because the quality is not high enough. Eventually they will
    improve the quality and plan to export.
        
    
This bring to an end the report on my China trip. If you have read this far 
and are  not bored, click here for a report on my impressions on how China 
has changed:

	Where have all the comrades gone?