The Story of a Coffee Man: the Chongqing Coffee Dream of Taiwan Youth

Chongqing Nanbin Road faces the Yangtze River to the north and backs to Nanshan. It is not only as prosperous as Zhongxiao East Road in Taipei, but also leaves behind the fervent dreams of many young people like Ximenting.

Huang Xingwei, from Taoyuan, Taiwan, planted his "coffee dream" here, according to the youth commune.

How long does it take a person to fall in love with a strange city? For Huang Xingwei, 32, it only takes just half a year.

In 2010, I went from Taiwan's Yuanzhi University to Chongqing University for half a year of study. At that time, the number of milk tea shops and coffee shops in Chongqing was very limited, and many of the students around them drank instant coffee. Huang Xingwei told reporters that coffee is a very popular drink in Taiwan. Taiwanese drink an average of two to three cups of coffee a day, and almost no one drinks instant coffee.

"at that time, I planted the seeds of a dream in my heart: when I had the opportunity to open a cafe in Chongqing, I would let more people realize the beauty of coffee in my favorite city. He says that after returning to Taiwan, such thoughts often hover in his mind.

"after graduating from college, I have a stable job as a customs declarant in Taiwan. The salary is very high, and my family is very satisfied. But I always feel that there is something missing. I am still so young, why not bravely fight for my dream? "Huang Xingwei said.

As a result, he quit his job in Taiwan, crossed the strait alone and began a dream journey in the mainland.

In August 2014, Huang Xingwei returned to Chongqing and opened his first coffee shop, Shakespeare Coffee, near Sichuan Foreign Studies University.

Huang Xingwei has a lot of feelings when talking about his "Virgo". "at that time, the awareness of freshly ground coffee in the Chongqing market was not high, and the purchase channels of coffee beans were not very smooth, which once made me feel very frustrated. "he said," luckily I met a kind landlord. She saw that when a young Taiwanese came to Chongqing to start a business, she offered a very low rent, which greatly saved my cost. "

Under the ridicule of outsiders that "it is better to open a mahjong parlor to make money", Huang Xingwei's "Chongqing Coffee Road" has become more and more determined.

"so far, I feel super proud that many college students in Chongqing drank their first cup of freshly ground coffee here. Huang Xingwei says with a smile that he has made many friends from the mainland as a result. He will introduce Taiwanese food and tourism to them, and they will take him to interesting places in Chongqing. "I like communicating with them very much. "he said.

Interior view of the glass garden coffee bar.

The first cafe has been open for two years. In 2016, Huang Xingwei, the restless man, transferred the store to a Chongqing friend and opened a new Glass House Garden Coffee Bar on Nanbin Road with two partners.

"this cafe has three shareholders, a Chongqing sister and an Australian Chinese brother. This kind of shareholder composition is also very interesting. "he said.

Between interviews, a gray-haired couple came to the cafe. Huang Xingwei smiled and said, "do you see them?" A few years ago, I could not imagine that the middle-aged and elderly would come for coffee. Now that they are here, I think I am quite good. "

Huang Xingwei was interviewed by the reporter.

With the growing atmosphere of "mass entrepreneurship and innovation" in mainland China, more and more young people in Taiwan want to participate in this dream-chasing craze.

"many friends around me actually want to come to the mainland for development, but they lack the understanding of the mainland and the courage to start a business. Huang Xingwei said, "the mainland market is far beyond the imagination of Taiwan's youth. As long as you correct your mindset, work hard enough, and try to think with the thinking of the local people, you will certainly be able to work hard on the mainland. "

Looking back on this "Chongqing Coffee Road" where difficulties, gains, and hopes coexist, the young Taiwanese said with emotion, "if you work harder and be brave, you can cross it." "

Huang Xingwei is working.