How long have you been to Nanning?
This might seem like a rather peculiar question. After all, for most people, they’ve never even heard of this city, yet this is a question many Chinese people (both local and foreign) are constantly asking each other.
Still, that isn’t the strangest thing you would imagine about this city.
Throwing the question back to the locals in the Northern or Eastern parts of China, and they’ll tell you that there’s nothing to see in the province of Guangxi. That the region is a mountainous area and there’s nothing to expect there.
If you were to believe them, then what you’re about to see will blow your mind.
Because stepping foot through the city borders reveals a technologically advanced city unlike anywhere else in the world. It’s almost like the cinematic city of Wakanda (from 2018 Marvel film, Black Panther) was a real city, locked and hidden away in Southern China.
A Real-Life Wakandan City in Our Midst
For frequent visitors to China, you would already be familiar with the advanced technology integrated into their society.
Developed countries around the world are desperately trying to imitate the sophistication of their day-to-day lives.
Most are failing miserably.
After all, nowhere else in the world do you find a city more connected digitally.
Why the monetary transactions are on a completely different level here.
And we’re not just talking about paying for your food through an app like Paylah with a registered merchant… even the grocery stalls rely on this same system.
Now let’s take things one step higher, even with the complexity of the digital system we’re using here in Singapore, it’s fair to say, most of us would never make a major transaction online, much less through an app.
Yet, the residents here are used to putting down payments and deposits for new launch projects. Talk about the art of priming, there’s something the Chinese government must have done right to give their citizens that much faith in the system.
To the every day Chinese, young and old, physical cash transactions are a thing of the past.
It’s all electronic now. It’s all WeChat.
The Veil of Guangxi Finally Removed
Now, if it seems like China is so amazing, the city of Nanning is about to raise that bar even higher.
Take a look at this short clip… (Turn up your volume and see if you noticed anything peculiar)
It’s quiet. Way too quiet.
We’re looking at hordes of motorcycles swarming past.
But we aren’t hearing them.
Go to any other city around the world and you’ll hear them from a mile away with their throttles screaming at the top of their voices.
Not here. Nothing. Zilch.
And it’s not just the bikes. The cars are quiet as well.
Now, imagine what that means for a city. Any city, where the majority of the cars are electric or at the very least, a hybrid.
There are ongoing pacts by the leaders around the world to turn their city green by 2025. A date they’ve been extending each time the deadline draws near.
Nanning is already living it!
With such major developments sprouting up in this city, it raises a curious question…
Why doesn’t the world know about this advanced city hidden away in Guangxi?
Why haven’t more people heard about it?
Home of the ASEAN China Expo
To be fair, there has been a couple of events where the Chinese government subtly promote this city.
After all, they specially allocated an area for the ASEAN China Expo which has been used to host the Asean China summit for many years.
This area isn’t just another building to host trade events, it is also a live showcase for the various Southeast Asia countries.
Not just through the event, but with the city’s decor as well.
Just drive around the streets and citizens or travellers to these countries will recognise many familiar and similar sights.
From a replica of the iconic Gardens by the Bay flower domes of Singapore to the trademark Petronas towers of Kuala Lumpur, and much more.
It’s literally a real-life one-stop shop version of the entire Asean within a single city.
Despite all this, there is almost zero coverage of the city by the various foreign delegates or their media.
And most wouldn’t have heard of it, unless through an invitation from a friend or an acquaintance.
The Belt and Road Initiative Connection
What makes this city even more peculiar is it’s a strategic location for China’s largest economic project to date…
The One Belt, One Road Initiative.
With this major railway project, Chinese president, Xi Jinping, hopes to create a major railway transport system that connects just about every city in Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Taking its roots from the historical silk road of old, this new initiative aims to introduce a new way to improve trade relations among these continents.
Many countries and leaders have no doubt express their concerns that China is attempting to control (possibly monopolise) the trade route and effectively stripping the United States of the position they’ve held for so long.
It’s possible then that this is one of the key reasons the city is continuously shrouded in mysteries. One after another.
The biggest question perplexing visitors minds being…
Where and how did this city receive the financial influence to develop and grow so rapidly within such a short time frame.
A Breeding Ground for Scam Artists and Maybe Something Bigger
As with any project, the deeper the secrets, the more likely to make one wonder if it is too good to be true.
It becomes natural to imagine that some kind of major scam or scheme is taking root in this place.
A technologically advanced sin city perhaps?
In fact, while there aren’t many stories you can find officially about the city, the list of articles about scams and ponzi schemes are at an all-time high.
A little too high in fact.
Strange when you think about it.
If this place is meant to become the pinnacle of China’s success… why aren’t they controlling the media?
Why let the city’s image be tarnish and tainted even before the world has had the chance to learn about it?
Ask the locals and other advocates of the city and you’ll hear a variety of reasons and explanations.
All complete speculations. All unbased claims and with no facts to support.
But perhaps there is something greater at work here?
Follow the Money. Unravel the Mystery.
If you’re reading this post, chances are…
- You’ve been invited by a friend or family member to visit Guangxi because it is an amazing place according to this associate of yours
- You already find yourself in Nanning and have no idea what you’re doing there
- You’re in Nanning to find out why your family member just invested close to SGD50K and you want to prove they’ve been scammed
Regardless of your reasons for being in this city, the fact remains, there is something big going on.
You see, not too long ago, I too was invited to visit this city.
There were a series of “business activities” and networking sessions I was “invited” to visit, and as the days went by, I was clear about one thing…
There is a scheme going on.
And it is such a brilliant scheme because no one can prove the scheme is real!
Yet from almost all angles it does look as though the Chinese government’s hand is strongly involved, hence the brilliance.
From what I’ve gathered, the plan was to get foreign capital injection into the city.
After all, with a digital banking system, money never leaves the banks. Regardless whether you’re paying a property agent, the agent is paying the property developer, the developer is paying the construction company, the company pays salaries to the employees, they, in turn, make personal purchases…
The money trail is always present.
And the cash never moves.
It’s really how banking systems work anywhere in the world.
But what does this mean for the country?
If the money never leaves the banks but foreigners are happy to inject more funds in…
The country benefits overall.
I’m simplifying things as it can get complicated to explain over a single post, what with this “secret organisation” planning an entire 5-days itinerary for anyone they managed to pull over.
Key Things to Take Note of
The truth is, if you’ve been invited to visit and your “friend” refuses to divulge any information, they’ve probably been trained and taught to do so.
Personally, as a marketer, I don’t like that approach.
It’s sneaky and often leaves a bad after taste in the prospect’s mind.
But I understand why they choose to do so.
After all, with the countless negative impressions Singaporeans, in general, have about multi-level marketing or MLM, they definitely want to disassociate themselves with the term.
Though the fact remains…
It is still MLM no matter how you choose to disguise it.
What’s more, this is supposedly an MLM at a country level. (If you believe the government is really involved.)
Here’s my personal take on the entire scheme…
If you’re thinking of this as a way to make a quick buck, you’re probably going to be sorely disappointed.
Not unless you’re highly influential or terrific at networking and sales. (They’ll say you only need to bring two persons in and that’s it, but if you dig around enough… the successful ones are either rich or influential)
Instead, if you already have the cash and want to invest in the city while it is still in the early “1960s of Singapore” stage, then it could be a good opportunity.
The city allows foreigners to open bank accounts and invest in properties without local involvement. A rare case for any country, in fact, you can’t do so in other cities in China, hence the signs that the government is involved.
But this means if you have the cash for a long term investment, then the opportunity is ripe for the taking.
And having an “insider” network becomes useful in such scenarios.
That’s when paying the 50K becomes worthwhile as they have the connections to know which are the hot developments in the area.
Naturally, there are other reasons which may justify or condemn the system, but it’s an entire debate on its own.
My goal was to help others who have been “invited” to visit this city have a slightly clearer picture of what they’re walking into.
We’re “encouraged” not to share the information but personally, I still find it quite unethical to market any product or service using concealment and deception.
Thus, with this article, I do hope it’ll give you a better idea and you can make the decision whether to invest and join the system for yourself.
*** Updates ***
Apparently, after talking to a good friend of mine, he was actually approached on this topic many years ago when the scheme was still at its infancy stage. He has written an article from a financial planner’s point of view which might be interesting as well.
Thought I should also make clear that after talking to a number of people, I don’t endorse or encourage this scheme. There are other types of investments I’ve experimented with and prefer. Especially those which I believe are more legitimate and doesn’t break families and friends apart.
Hi Jonathan, thank you for the sharing. I too, have been invited on exactly a 5-days trip to Guangxi Nanning by a friend. I agreed to the trip partly because I needed a short break/vacation too. My friend too has remained secretive and told me to trust her which I do. I am expecting some kind of investment talk etc, which to be honest I do not have any spare cash to throw into, not to mentioned its MLM related which I am highly uninterested. However its my nature to always do research especially in such secretive scenario, which brought me to your website. I am hoping that you could share more on what to expect, their selling techniques, persuasion, if possible the products and your personal opinions. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Calvin
Hi Calvin, I’ve been receiving a number of messages from others like yourself who were invited by people they know. Personally I don’t have much issues with MLM, depending on the product, as I feel the commission structure could incentivise their users.
Naturally this depends on the product and whether it does solve a problem for the user.
That said, what concerns me about this program is the absence of an actual product. In other words, a person entering the program is essentially paying for an invisible product. On top of that, they’re using a bait and switch sales method which I am not in favour of.
Hi Jonathan,
Thank you for the insightful sharing. I have been approached by a friend recently on the exact same proposition: an all expense paid trip to Guangxi for a holiday, an investment that has zero risk (nothing in the world is risk proof! Even the lunch i had earlier might have a risk of food poisoning!) and she could not articulate what this investment is all about except that it involves people/networking? and it sets you on the path of financial freedom for the rest of your living life!? For the skeptical and smarter critical thinking ones, they might dispute with extensive research. I consider both my friends to be intellectually aware of global news issues, people with good professional working experiences but yet on their return from Guangxi, they view have been cluttered with visions of concrete prosperity. I worry for them and can only pray that their hard earn money preserve.
Hi KC,
Yes, unfortunately, the allure of making a quick buck is always very addictive. And because of a number of psychological factors and reasons, once you step there, you become “indebted” to the program. With a full 5-days there is ample opportunity to sway even the most stubborn of minds. That being said, I know that for some people, they’re not concern about the means but the end result. I met a number of “high level” professionals there which is very effective in persuading most everyday individual as you’ll think to yourself, “if these people are in, then perhaps it is possible?”
Ultimately, what I do not like is the bait and switch tactic deployed. As a copywriter and marketer myself, we use certain psychological tactics in our marketing messages but I’ve always frowned upon bait and switch as it tends to leave a bitter taste in the clients.
Hi Mark, KC,
I am also invited to Nanning for a 5 day investment tour. I have to pay for the airfare & hotel myself. Was told of $50k membership fee to join their network. Was told total size 10000 members from Singapore. I calculate the investment poured into this “association” is $500 million. From Malaysia with 5 times more investors that Singapore, $2.5billion. Wow this association must be very rich. All they provide is an “opportunity” and some transportation during the 5 days.
Mark, I am thinking I will go along but I will source my own investment opportunities while at Nanning. Why pay the $50k
Hi Sam,
That’s interesting that you have to come up with the hotel yourself as they have a policy of inviting guests to stay with them. The idea is to emphasize on the “Chinese hospitality” culture. But then again, as it is a self-regulating system, I’m sure there will be cracks in the system sooner or later. One of the issues of not having a central management which begs back the question on who is actually regulating the entire thing.
But exactly as you mentioned, there is no real reason to invest through the membership as it seems anyone can open an account and invest in the property directly.
Hi
I have heard about this Naning membership have $30k and $50k things.And is back up by goverment is this true.And need to recruit 7 people after that no need to find member anymore. There is commision for each member recruit.Did the goverment have such invesment.I heard they are asking chinese businessman back to china and invest .The more i listen the more i know something is not right.
5 days free eat and accomodation is not really enticing for me.And i heard is the recruiter ownself pay all the fares for the person invited.And mostly they rent a condo for them to stay.
Hi Tan, yes that is the general idea that they’re pitching to people to get people to visit. Most would tell you, you only need to bring in 2 persons and your role is done. But upon analysing the system you will probably realise that who you bring in is very critical. Because if the people you bring in doesn’t bring others in, then you might effectively have a dead end in terms of recruitment. They’re using this idea of Chinese hospitality as a draw and the reason for the host covering the 5 days of accommodation and expenses.
I experienced same as you people,
Go ahead or ignore?
Hi Eric, the truth is it really depends on what your objectives are. The city is a really interesting place to visit though you can get your own flight and explore the place like anywhere else in China. If it is investment that you’re interested in, then you may want to go and decide for yourself. Some people see it as a scam, some see it as a legit system to make money fast. Ultimately, everyone has different opinions about the scheme but it all boils down to the individual’s purpose.
I heard it from my son who went up. Basically it is a money game. And as with all money games, if u are a person with no network and/or capital, it becomes a scam, cos u will never be able to get anyone to join and when u lose money u cry foul, its like now how many ppl now are calling HDB a scam too. But if u are a person with a scalable network, that will make ur money roll a lot more exponentially and faster. There are many many more such “networks” around, some line the top founder pockets, some distributes around the circle, see BNI, see Brickstone Club. End of the day its whether u are able to play the game. I am currently in Nu Skin, why? Bcos women’s money are easiest to make and my wife is a beautician, so to me even if its MLM, I’m making ends meet from it. There’s no cheating, stealing or robbing. N like one of them mentioned, there’s 10k ppl in it, what are the chances of 10k ppl being scammed, 500mil move out of sg and the police don’t know a single thing?
Hi Jackson, I guess it really depends on how you view scams and what your definition of it is. Ultimately, in my opinion, it is a money game. Because someone has to pay for everyone on top to earn. Some might argue that this is how the economy works – money has to change hands for everyone to prosper. But back to the topic of whether it is truly a scam or not… like you mentioned, there are many “network businesses” around. And every one of them depends highly on your network or your willingness to prospect and acquire clients. This scheme is no different except that there is nothing tangible or intangible being exchanged. Even with insurance, there are documents to certify you’ll receive a sum of money in the event of an accident.
That said, I do know of people who don’t see anything wrong with this system and will go all out to make a quick buck. With regards of whether the police know about this… I guess with our financial institutions handling billions of dollars everyday, it can get quite difficult to track the transactions of 10k individuals transferring money over a period of time. But like you suggest, with the due diligence expected of bank officers today, they might suspect something is amiss if an individual without much money is attempting to transfer majority of it overseas. Got to get an expect to weigh in here as I’m not sure.
Dear Mr Seet. I have read comments fr0m your bloggers. I am aghast why you have taken a neutral stand on this Pyramid Scheme. My retired friends and I have been scammed. And we are building a profile to expose the Singapore scammers !! Your stand is only encouraging the ignorant to be led to the slaughter house. For your info, I send a comment some months back, so far you not responded. You have an obligation to expose these scammers. Please respond. Thank you.
Hi Beng Hong, I’m taking a neutral stance as I’m not in the position to recommend or oppose the scheme since I didn’t join the program and I’ve only been there once. The purpose of my blog post is to let people know that there is such a scheme that exists. Like any investment (or scam) I believe due diligence should always be practised before putting any money in. The fact is, it is natural for anyone after hearing their sales pitch, to believe it is easy money and get greedy. But like any make money program, it always involve selling a product or scheme to someone else. In this case, it is a virtual membership.
Are there people who have made money from this? I’m sure there are and they probably don’t see anything wrong with the entire scheme, especially if they’re influential and can bring in a large number of people. At the same time, there are many others who don’t have that same luxury and will most likely never “succeed”, because of their network or inability to bring people into the scheme. Regardless, I believe it boils down to the individual’s moral ethics and discipline.
With regards to your other point, I tried searching for your previous comment but couldn’t find it. In any case, I’ll approve one of your other comment after redacting the points you requested.
Dear Mark Jonathan Seet. I send this message to the Singapore Ring Leader.
Quote: “My wife is still chasing me to get proper documentation for the roughly 30,000 SGD paid to your Singapore bank account. She expects –
1. An acknowledgement of receipt of payment received.
2. A record of the signed expression of interest document performed by [Redacted].
3. A mechanism whereby it is recorded that I am a participant of the Overseas Chinese Community scheme, whatever its official name is called.
4. A mechanism to transfer my share to my nominee in the event of my demise.
As I have mentioned to you last month, I would want to test the procedure and mechanism on my withdrawal from this membership. Unless there is a clear exit plan, I cannot in good conscience persuade my university cohorts to go to Nanning to participate, as I do not have the answers to the above questions posed. I do not think a meeting at your office to explore how we can bring in potential candidates will be beneficial. I just want answers to the four questions posed to you above. looking forward to your prompt attention and reply. Thanks and best regards.”
I’ve redacted the name of the individual as per your request in another comment.
This is actually a money game and the scheme uses Nanning as a platform for such “business referral program” whereby one would need to invite two business partners to get into the program and investing either 30K or 50K (currency exchange rate of RMB/CNY) to buy into “shares” that are required to be activated to start “the “kickbacks”. It is not considered MLM but a business referral program because the scheme does not progress beyond three tiers of downlines from your position.
The money used to buy into the “shares” is zeroized where it is then redistributed amongst your “sponsor” – the person who brought you into the program – and his/her uplines hence there is no physical product and you only earn your cut/bonus when your downline introduces new “partners” into the program.
Scam, money game or scheme – whatever you call it, it boils down to the ethics of selling except that there is no product to market/sell, just a platform for priming mindsets to “buy” into the program. For the pioneers who’ve started way back in 2016, they would’ve made enough and some have even invested in the property over there.
So the question lies in this – if one is comfortable in going through this route to invest in China as an individual and willing to rope in “like-minded” individuals as “business partners”.
Hi Esther, thanks for your insight. I’m not too familiar with the history of the program as I’ve only been there once so far. I agree with you, at the end of the day, from what I’ve gathered, it is a money game. As you mentioned, it really boils down to the individual’s sales ethics. I do know of some people who don’t see anything wrong with the model while there are many others who find it immoral to bring their friends and family to the scheme.
Hi Mark, thanks for starting this post. I’ve been invited and had recently confirmed my flight. As the day grew nearer, I’ve been thinking and overthinking. It’s really a huge turn off if it’s mlm.
After reading several comments here, I do get a clearer picture.. it does sound like sth I’d hate to do but I’ll just head over to listen, since it’s introduced by a trusted mentor.
Hi Alan, no worries and glad to share, the purpose of creating this post was to let more people be aware of the scheme so they can make a better decision for themselves. Personally, I’m not a fan of the bait and switch model as it sorts of abuse the trust between friends which is part of the reason for letting others become aware of the model before they step into Nanning. That said, the city is a beautiful place, and I do recommend you check it out. Other than the tight security measures in place, it is very eco-friendly and quiet.
Hi Alan,
I am currently in the exact same situation as what u mentioned.
May I know if you would recommend to others to go and your final decision after this trip to Nanning?
Thanks!
dear mark jonathan seet, Please do not publish this post. Quote. Many thanks for removing and amending to Ben. there is one more item to amend. 29th sept 2019 10:24 min. Just remove “Hi Beng Hong”. That should clear all reference to Ng Beng Hong. Thanks for co-operation. Unquote
Dear Ben,
I am being persuaded by my friend to go there and “have a look” and he refuse to tell me more. After finding this highly informative page thanks to Mark Jon, I fortunately have a much clearer picture. May I know if you and other victims have a platform to communicate regarding this issue? If not I would like to make a facebook page and gather victims together. Let me know, thanks.
Hi Lucas, yup that’s the tactic they use which I find rather weird. You wouldn’t ask someone to go on a trip and not tell them where, yet they’re perfectly fine with this approach. Glad you have a clearer picture. Coincidentally, another commenter has created a web page for people who want to gather and talk about their experience.
Hi Mark, thanks for sharing about this scheme. I’m actually surprised you’re openly talking about it on your blog. Myself and a few others have started organizing sharing sessions for people who want to meet up and talk about it. We’re still keeping ourselves anonymous for obvious reasons and prefer live meet ups. If any of your followers are interested they can visit this page to find out more: https://nanninginvestment.com
Hi K, yup, I just thought I would share my opinion so others can make a better decision. Can understand the need for anonymity.
i was there in Nov 2019.
its a money game.
the more ppl throws in 30k or 50k the faster u get ur bonus.
the more down line you have the more bonus.
ppl there package it as a business. To mi it is a people biz…no ppl throws in $$ no bonus…
So where is the capital sitting in? They said it is in the bank..
and why do ppl believe in capital guarantee? ur capital is refundable minus 200rmb admin charge…
Overall, in stated of a vertical ponzi pyramid explained.
their model is horizontal..
Hi Dakota, thanks for your sharing. Yup, I think many others also feel it is a money game where the general basis of the game is simple… recruit more people into the system.
Hi Mark, read your post and all comments from your readers.
Thank you for sharing this information. Was recently approached and invited for the same scheme. The money game mentioned here sounds like “Ponzi”. And from my shallow understanding, the returns will be more around 16x of what was ‘invested’.
However, I am in consideration of rejecting this offer from one of my close friend. Any advice to reject politely? (my friend just ‘invested’, and is really enthusiastic about it about booking this flight for me to head over next week)
Hi kimm, thanks for your comment. I guess, depending on how close you are to this friend of yours, you could point out your concerns and even direct this person to my blog post to explain why. Ultimately, I believe it really boils down to the individual and their reasons for engaging in this scheme.
I believe it is legitimate but hidden for political reason. If any personnel work for national defence will understand a similar concept behind. I have an elder cousin into this scheme for years (5 ~ 7). She working in the banking system for more than 18 years.
1) Local police/authorities are not stupid (so who is ignorance here).
2) Local banks involved are not stupid (do you think auditors are stupid).
3) Rumours/Negative news are tools to control human traffic. Many countries use this, not a new tool at all.
4) Local Immigration stupid or the top pass down instructions? (Remember here is CHINA)
5) Think hard again, who is invited and who is not invited? (IQ and EQ)
6) Why invited only? (Does it meet the political vision and financial vision criteria)
BTW, not all invitees are so lucky in the legitimate scheme group (think of legitimate TOTO and non-legitimate, everywhere the same). Wish yourself good luck.
Enough for now.
That’s true. There are many different points people have bring out with regards to the scheme. Ultimately, each person has to do his or her own due diligence before deciding whether to join the system or not.
I came to this post googling for “nanning scam”; suffice to say that my brothers severed their relationship due to this – one was “invited” for the trip in the pretext of a tour of this amazing city but ended up being “brainwashed” with talks and presentations throughout the 4-5 days, 4 sessions a day, and I was told the talking continues over meal time. The horror was when the entire presentation is carefully planned using speakers who are in similar professions as you, making it more relatable, etc. They had advanced into using all sort of hard, soft, logic, business approaches and to stress and brainwash you like those time-share hard sell sittings. Sure, it can be said it’s a money game and to go in with open eyes if you still want to “invest” but the purpose of my post here is a warning to all that in life, relationships cannot be bought with money. Don’t lose your friends or family through this unethical scheme. Good luck.
Thanks for sharing your experience. And agree, with any investment scheme, it’s always best to carefully study it and never lose friend or family over money.