Since the first batch of Coca-Cola arrived in Beijing and Guangzhou by train in 1979, Coca-Cola has developed in Chinese mainland for 35 years. In fact, before that, Coca-Cola entered the China market as early as 1927, but then withdrew in 1948. In China’s more than 50 years’ experience, Coca-Cola has also had many stories that outsiders don’t know.

　　　　　　　　1. Coca-Cola was once called "Tadpoles chew wax"

　　　　　　　　When I first entered China in 1927, the Chinese translation of "Coca-Cola" was "Tadpoles Eating Wax". Unique taste and strange name, product sales can be imagined. In the 1930s, Coca-Cola published a newspaper in Britain to collect Chinese translations with a prize of 350 pounds. Jiang Yi, a British scholar, applied for the job with the translated name "Coca-Cola" and was taken by the judges.

　　　　　　　　The first production line in Beijing was dismantled from Shanghai.

　　　　　　　　Before liberation, Coca-Cola set up a bottling plant in Shanghai, and it sold well. In 1948, the sales of Coca-Cola in Shanghai exceeded 1 million cases, making it the first city outside the United States to achieve such brilliant results. Subsequently, Coca-Cola completely withdrew from China. Under the instruction of Zhou Enlai, the Coca-Cola production line was dismantled and shipped to Beijing. It is said that this is the first soda production line in Beijing.

　　　　　　　　3. Return to China under the name of BENETRADE.

　　　　　　　　In 1973, Coca-Cola could not trade with China as an American company. Therefore, Coca-Cola has set up a trading company named BENETRADE in Hong Kong, which means’ beneficial trading’, and started the trade procurement of furniture and building materials with China through platforms such as Guangzhou Fair. At the Guangzhou Fair in 1974, Coca-Cola started to establish contact with China Grain and Oil Import and Export Corporation through BENETRADE.

　　　　　　　　4. Shangfang Sword: Vice Premier’s calligraphy

　　　　　　　　At the beginning of 1978, Chinese’s views on new things were still unclear. Zhang Jianhua, general manager of COFCO, urged Coca-Cola to be introduced to Chinese mainland. Although COFCO did not have a red tape from the central government, there was a handwritten note by Li Xiannian, then vice premier, which roughly meant that this work could be carried out. This handwritten note became a sword for COFCO to introduce Coca-Cola.

　　　　　　　　5. It used to be a luxury exclusive to foreigners.

　　　　　　　　In January 1979, the first batch of 3,000 cases of Coca-Cola set off from Hong Kong and went to Beijing and Guangzhou by train. According to the agreement signed between Coca-Cola and COFCO at that time, Coca-Cola can only supply foreign-related hotels and tourist shops, and its sales targets can only be foreigners, returned overseas Chinese and compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao who are working and traveling in China. The price of each bottle is four yuan (more than one US dollar), and it can only be purchased in foreign currency or foreign exchange certificates. In Chinese’s view at that time, Coca-Cola was a "symbol of capitalism".

　　　　　　　　6. Shanghai was boycotted and forced to settle in Beijing Roast Duck Factory.

　　　　　　　　When returning to Chinese mainland to choose the site of the first bottle factory, Coca-Cola first thought of Shanghai. However, when contacting the relevant departments, they met with strong resistance. Some units and individuals in Shanghai published articles in newspapers and magazines, accusing COFCO of introducing Coca-Cola as "traitorous" and "foreign slave philosophy". In the end, Coca-Cola had to give up its plan to settle in Shanghai and settle in an old factory of Beijing Roast Duck Factory under COFCO in Wulidian, Beijing.

　　　　　　　　7. The first promotion ended in the following frame.

　　　　　　　　On the weekend before Christmas in 1982, Coca-Cola promoted sales in Beijing’s major shopping malls-buying a bottle of Coca-Cola and giving a balloon or a pair of beautifully packaged chopsticks-which was the first store promotion activity in China’s contemporary market.

　　　　　　　　The major media in Beijing reacted violently, criticizing that "drinking Coca-Cola is treason", and the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau instructed on the internal reference that "(Coca-Cola) is only allowed to be sold to foreigners". Overnight, all Coca-Cola was removed from the counter of the shopping mall. After more than half a year, the factory was in a state of semi-suspension.

　　　　　　　　Later, COFCO reflected it in the form of "people’s letters" and sent it to the Central Committee through the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, which won the support of then Chairman Wan Li. COFCO then submitted an application to the State Council, hoping that the central authorities would approve the domestic sales, and finally it was approved.

　　　　　　　　8. China people and coke are on the cover

　　　　　　　　On April 30, 1984, the cover of Time magazine in the United States was titled "The New Face of China, What Reagan Will See", and the cover photo showed a smiling ordinary Chinese standing in front of the Great Wall with a bottle of Coca-Cola. This picture directly shows that China is gradually opening up and people are starting a new life. This is the first time that ordinary people in China who are not government officials have appeared on the cover of Time Magazine.

　　　　　　　　9. The Queen’s visit to China-the first Coca-Cola advertisement on CCTV

　　　　　　　　In October 1986, the Queen of England visited China for the first time. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) made a documentary for this purpose. CCTV wanted to buy the right to broadcast, so it found Coca-Cola, hoping to sponsor $200,000, provided that Coca-Cola advertisements were broadcast before and after the film was broadcast. One day in October, 1986, after the broadcast of News Network, CCTV and 18 national TV stations simultaneously sounded the melody of Coca-Cola advertisements, which was the first advertisement for foreign enterprises broadcast by CCTV after China’s reform and opening up.

　　　　　　　　10. How was the wholly-owned concentrated solution factory built?

　　　　　　　　In 1986, Coca-Cola wanted to establish a concentrated solution factory in China. As the Coca-Cola formula is a trade secret, it must be wholly owned by Coca-Cola. However, at that time, China’s policy did not allow wholly foreign-owned enterprises. Finally, China proposed a solution: Coca-Cola Company built two factories-a concentrated solution factory and a bottling factory, and gave the bottling factory to China for free. After that, the two factories formed a joint board of directors, and China and the United States each held 50% of the shares to form a cooperative enterprise. This became the first Sino-US cooperative enterprise in China.

　　　　　　　　11. David Lu, the chairman of Greater China and South Korea, has also experienced studying agriculture.

　 　 　 　 David Lu, who entered Coca-Cola in 1988, was a diplomat under former US President George H.W. Bush. From 1975 to 1977, after Sino-American relations broke the ice, David lived in Beijing with his parents for more than two years, and he became a rare western student in Beijing at that time. "I am studying in Beijing No.55 Middle School in Sanlitun. I am the only foreign child in the whole school. I am a’ post-60 s’ who has experienced studying as a worker, studying agriculture and learning Lei Feng; China and I do gymnastics with the People’s Liberation Army and do eye exercises. I rode my bike around Chang ‘an Avenue and was curious about everything around me. Middle school changed my life. "