Recently, a new space showcasing Ningbo’s urban culture—called “One-Meter Space”—has been added to the common lounge area at Huatai Intelligent’s Thailand factory. Items such as cultural and creative products inspired by intangible cultural heritage, books about the city, and distinctive graphic prints are now available to Chinese and Thai employees, providing them with a place to learn about Ningbo and interact with one another during their breaks from production work.

During lunch breaks, Zhongtai employees can often be seen browsing the *Ningbo City Reader* and trying out unique graphic printing experiences in front of the “One-Meter Space.” Themed cultural and creative products featuring landmarks such as Gulou and Tianyi Pavilion are neatly displayed, allowing employees to experience Ningbo’s cultural charm in a relaxed atmosphere.

From the shores of the East China Sea to the banks of the Gulf of Siam, this cultural exhibition space integrates Ningbo’s culture into the daily lives of overseas employees, providing a tangible and perceptible vessel for a city’s memories in a foreign land.

Huatai Intelligent’s Thailand factory, located in Rayong Province, Thailand, serves as a key overseas manufacturing base for Junhe Co., Ltd. Covering an area of nearly 80,000 square meters, the factory features a comprehensive production system that includes injection molding, die casting, machining, and motor assembly. It has a planned annual production capacity of 2 million water pumps, with products primarily sold to the North American market. Currently, the factory employs a total of 187 staff members, including 41 Chinese nationals, and stands as one of Ningbo’s key production bases in Southeast Asia.

“We hope not only to bring high-quality products overseas, but also to help our overseas employees better understand our company and Ningbo,” said Sun Qinghua, Deputy General Manager of Junhe Huatai. She noted that a company’s development is inseparable from its employees, and that cultural identity is a key source of team cohesion. “One Meter Space” not only enriches the cultural lives of overseas employees but has also become an important bridge for communication and interaction between Chinese and Thai staff. Through this space, everyone learns about each other’s cultural backgrounds, fostering greater understanding and trust, which makes team collaboration run more smoothly. For the company, this kind of cultural exchange not only strengthens employees’ sense of belonging and creates a more harmonious work atmosphere, but also adds a human touch to the company’s overseas development.

“One Meter Space” has allowed many Thai employees to get an up-close look at Ningbo for the first time. Maifa, a Thai employee, often stops by to flip through Ningbo city guides to learn about the city’s scenery and historical culture.

“I didn’t know much about Ningbo before, but through ‘One-Meter Space,’ I’ve learned about Ningbo’s ‘Luocheng’ and discovered that it’s a city with both a long history and a vibrant energy,” Maifa said. “My Chinese colleagues often recommend local specialties like Ningbo tangyuan to me, and I’m really eager to try them. I hope to have the opportunity in the future to visit the headquarters in Ningbo for training and exchange, so I can see the city for myself and experience the local life and culture.”

Today, “One-Meter Space” has become a distinctive feature at Huatai Intelligent’s factory in Thailand. During their breaks, Chinese and Thai employees gather here to read books, explore cultural and creative products, and exchange ideas—deepening their understanding of each other’s cultures through these relaxed interactions. This cultural exhibition space has also quietly bridged the gap between people, allowing cultural exchange to occur naturally in the small moments of daily life.

Editor: Fu Tingting; Reviewers: Shen Zhiying, Mei Ziman

Source: Yongpai; Reporters: Sun Jie, Lin Jiaying