Chinese Billionaire Takes 3,000 Staff Members On Holiday To Spain

By Crystal Chung @crystalkchung

MADRID warmly welcomed 3,000 Chinese tourists on a company holiday worth an estimated €20 million - booking out over 2,000 hotel rooms and hiring a fleet of 80 coaches

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A table of happy workers wave and smile for the camera as they celebrate Tiens' 21st anniversary

As Spain’s international tourist sector continues to prosper, a significant contribution to the number of people coming from China has just been made by Li Jinyuan, the founder and owner of the Tiens Group.

After several days of eating traditional Spanish food, the work force chose to eat at a Chinese buffet on Friday afternoon

The 3,000 tourists arrived to Madrid’s Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport on Thursday 5 April.

Staff from Chinese pharmaceutical company Tiens pose with drinks

On Friday evening they all joined together at the Puerta del Angel to celebrate Tien Group’s 21st anniversary, which included the entire workforce unfolding the “Flag of Peace” - a 60m x 100m silk flag proclaiming the words “PEACE AND PROGRESS”.

At Shangrila Buffet they were treated to all you can eat Chinese food

During the event there were also thank you speeches to the city of Madrid as well as the staff being served 202 pans of paella with the evening ending with a traditional flamenco dance and a Chinese calligraphy performance.

The hundreds of staff members booked out the entire restaurant for their afternoon lunch

After being treated to traditional Spanish food for the last few days, the 3000 tourists also decided to have a lunch consisting of food a little closer to home.

A group of the staff members cheers to the company's 21st anniversary with glasses of sangria

Hundreds of the workforce made their way to Shangrila Chinese Buffet in Madrid were they fuelled up on chow mein, dim sum and other Chinese dumplings before continuing on their sightseeing around the Spanish capital.

On their final day in Madrid the Tiens workforce were treated to a luxury shopping trip

Unfortunately the generous boss behind Tiens’ annual trips was unable to make this particular Spanish holiday as he is due to meet with China’s highest national department of Special Health Committees.

One of the staff members Miss Xiao Ming said: “I love Madrid, the city is so clean and the shopping is amazing. There are so many brands that you can buy here that we don’t get back at home.”

Although Li could not make the trip, he sent his eldest son Li Zong Ming along with the Vice President of Tiens Group, Tian’ Ao Liu.

The tourists could be seen wearing their matching hats and t-shirts as they shopped around luxury department store El Cortes Ingles

“For us this is a small trip for the company and there will be many other trips to come and hopefully the president will be able to join us on them.

On Friday evening all 3000 joined together at the Puerta del Angel to celebrate Tien Group’s 21st anniversary

Li Zong Ming said: “We do these trips to thank all of our employee for their support and hard work, unfortunately we cannot take all of our staff due to the capacities of the countries we visit so it can be difficult to have everyone here and this is why we have less staff on this Madrid trip than last year’s France trip.”

Tiens Group hired out a fleet of 70 buses, 2000 hotel rooms and travelled to Madrid in 20 airplanes

On their final day in Madrid the Tiens Group Chinese tourists descended on one of Madrid’s most popular and expensive department stores, El Corte Ingles for a shopping trip like no other.

Madrid locals and airport staff were faced with chaos as the 3000 Chinese holidaymakers descended on the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport to begin their holiday

The workforce were seen wearing their matching blue t-shirts and hats as they shopped around big brands such as Burberry, Prada and Coach.

Following the success of last years staff holiday to Nice and Paris the Chinese mega-company Tiens Group decided to do it all again

One of the staff members Miss Xiao Ming, 28 said: “I love Madrid, the city is so clean and the shopping is amazing. There are so many brands that you can buy here that we don’t get back at home.”

This trip was a first for Spain as it hosted Tiens annual event with it being the largest gathering for cultural exchange since China and Spain established diplomatic ties 42 years ago

The week long holiday takes Tiens Group approximately eight months to plan with staff being chosen by their work performance for the year.

Although Li could not make the trip, he sent his eldest son Li Zong Ming along with the Vice President of Tiens Group, Tian’ Ao Liu

In September 2016, the Tiens Group will be swapping their tourist trainers for flip flops as the staff will be treated to yet another trip, with 6,500 of them heading off to Bali, Indonesia.