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Jenna Ezarik travels to China for the first time after TCL invites her to its Global Partner Conference. She flies to Shanghai, continues to Shenzhen and navigates jet lag, humidity and an allergic reaction. The visit includes automated TCL display and air-conditioner factories, a DJI store, an Alipay demonstration and a RoboTaxi ride through highways and tunnels. Jenna's Shenzhen trip combines conference events, factory tours and attempts to navigate a new place. She learns to use Alipay and WeChat, visits the DJI store and rides a RoboTaxi. The jet lag, humidity, hives, wrong hotel, puddle and bank fraud alert complicate the visit, while the automated factory lines and driverless car remain key parts of the experience.
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First trip to Shenzhen
Jenna Ezarik visits China for the first time after TCL invites her to its Global Partner Conference. Her journey includes a 14-hour flight to Shanghai, a layover and a late-night arrival in Shenzhen, where she is taken to the wrong hotel. The next day, jet lag and humidity make the schedule harder, and she has an allergic reaction with hives at the welcome dinner and conference.
During an early walk along the bay, Jenna learns how Alipay and WeChat are used. Alipay can handle payments, food orders, translation and transport bookings, including booking a car. She also visits TCL's CSOT display factory and sees automated robotic assembly lines, then tours an air-conditioner factory described as a lights-out operation using AI.
DJI and the RoboTaxi
At Shenzhen's flagship DJI store, Jenna buys a microphone and looks at drones, cameras and other gear. She then rides a RoboTaxi through highways and tunnels using the Pony Pilot app. She describes the drive as smooth and says the car handles obstacles and reminds passengers to take their carry-on items.
After an evening walk to a mall, Jenna steps into a deep puddle. Her attempt to buy a jacket also fails when her bank flags the card as a possible fraud transaction. The short visit combines the conference, factory tours, app-based services and autonomous ride with these mishaps. Jenna reflects on the technology and hospitality she encountered in Shenzhen.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What was the first thing you learned about tech in China?
- A: I learned about Alipay and WeChat. You can literally do everything in Alipay, from ordering food to booking a car.
- Q: How was the RoboTaxi experience in Shenzhen?
- A: It was smooth and futuristic. The self-driving car handled highways, tunnels, and obstacles well, even reminding us to take our carry-on items.
- Q: Did you encounter any problems during your trip?
- A: Yes, I had an allergic reaction with hives, I got dropped at the wrong hotel, and my bank flagged my card as fraud when I tried to buy a jacket.