台湾设计师的北京生活

For many people from Taiwan living in the Chinese mainland, their new home is not only a land of opportunities but also one full of culture shocks. Our reporter Feng Xin visits an industrial designer from Taiwan who shared his observations in work and life in Beijing.

Designer Bart Fang has been working in Beijing for nearly two years. He left his home, Taiwan, after receiving an invitation by an industry leader in his field. Before he took the job, he had worked in Taiwan for more than a decade.

"Although we all speak the Chinese language, the culture, people and society this soil has nurtured are quite different from what I was used to. I was born and grew up in Taipei. To me, the differences are quite significant," Fang said.

One of the main tasks Fang was given after he came to Beijing was to help a Taiwan brand of rice-cookers crack into the mainland market. Fang found that whereas Taiwan households prefer classic appearances and simple operating modes, mainland consumers favor modern designs and more complex functions.

So, he redesigned the product, keeping the one-button style on the one hand, while on the other, emphasizing the machine’s one-for-all functions for the mainland consumers.

Like Bart Fang, there are three other Taiwan designers working at the same company. In fact, China’s census shows that at least 170,000 people from Taiwan are now living in the mainland and they take diverse occupations such as business, education, consultation and so on. They share the same cultural heritage with people on the mainland, but live with everyday differences.

Living in a metropolis like Beijing can be challenging. Fang takes the subway between his rented apartment and company every day.

"I don’t have any vehicles, so I rely on my feet and public transportation. Often, you see traffic light turn green for pedestrians, but you have to look around very carefully, because you may still find cars rushing at you from all directions. That makes me really nervous," Fang said.

Fang’s wife and son went back to Taiwan a couple of months ago to escape Beijing’s winter smog. Despite that, Fang says his family has been very supportive of his decision to work in the Chinese mainland, because the diverse culture and people serve as great inspiration to a designer.

Fang will soon join his wife and son in Taiwan for the Chinese Lunar New Year. And together, they’ll come back to Beijing in the Year of the Monkey.