Traditions that withstand the test of time

A month after arriving in London for his studies, Jin Feipeng started spending his weekends peddling bags, fashion accessories and DVDs at a market. Most people would have mistaken the then 17-year-old for someone who was struggling to make ends meet, but little did they know that it was merely a matter of pride and passion.

"I wanted to earn and spend my own money instead of having my parents pay for my living expenses, and that's why I chose to be a peddler," said Jin, whose wealthy father owned Shanghai Jiu Ding Clock, a successful business dealing with standing clocks.

While most students in Jin's gilded shoes would have taken to exploring the United Kingdom capital and hanging out with new found friends, the Wenzhou native was single-minded in his resolve to hone his business acumen while carving a living for himself in a foreign land. Besides his weekend sales outings at the market, the Thames Valley University student had also sublet two rooms in his home to other students as well as juggled jobs at bars and restaurants.