In July 2026, at the height of summer, Tavol Group gathered for its annual mid-year team building event. This was more than a retreat to rest and recharge — it was a pivotal assembly, bridging what has been and what lies ahead. The first half of the year has drawn to a close; the journey into the second half now officially begins.
This year's team building took place at the scenic Jinyuan Mountain Villa, nestled beside Tianlong Reservoir in Taishan District, Tai'an City. Located near Shaling Village on the eastern foothills of Mount Tai, the villa is reached by a winding mountain road that climbs steadily upward. At the summit awaits a breathtaking panorama — shimmering lake waters embraced by peaks on three sides, where mountains and water merge into one seamless vista. Jinyuan Mountain Villa sits on the northern bank of Tianlong Reservoir, a hidden mountain eatery tucked away among these hills and waters. Here, one can savour authentic rustic cuisine while drinking in the splendour of nature — an ideal setting for a team retreat. Upon arrival, everyone was instantly captivated by the beauty of this lakeside sanctuary. Many teams wasted no time posing for group photos, eager to capture this perfect moment in a frame.
The first formal segment of the event was the award ceremony honouring the top three teams in Q2 2026 profit performance. Over the past three months, teams across Tavol Group pushed hard, delivered exceptional results, and turned in impressive scorecards built on hard work and ingenuity. At the ceremony, senior leadership presented each award-winning team with certificates, bouquets, and cash bonuses in turn. As team representatives stepped onto the stage and received these well-earned honours, the venue erupted in warm applause. These awards were more than symbols of recognition — they were a tribute to, and an acknowledgement of, the dedication and effort poured in over the past quarter. The certificates attested to their professionalism and perseverance; the flowers mirrored their joy and pride; the cash rewards were the most direct recognition of their outstanding performance. This moment of glory belongs to the winners — and it also serves as inspiration for every Tavol colleague in the audience: keep striving, and the next one standing on that podium could be you.
After the award ceremony, the much-anticipated Tavol Group Guandan Tournament kicked off in earnest. Guandan — a card game that traces its origins to Huai'an, Jiangsu, in the 1960s — has since grown into a nationally beloved mind sport across China. Played with two standard decks totalling 108 cards, the game pits four players against each other in two fixed partnerships, with rounds of advancement determined by win-loss outcomes. Its core mechanics blend elements of the draw-and-discard game "Chase" and the trick-taking game "Upgrade," while introducing a distinctive "wild card matching" rule known as fengrenpei — where certain cards can pair with any other card — placing a premium on teamwork and strategic thinking.
In the tournament, each duo relied on seamless coordination, sharp calculation, and clever tactics to outplay their opponents across the card table. The atmosphere was charged yet spirited — some players pondered their moves with quiet composure, others struck with decisive flair, every round a battle of wits and nerve. The sounds of shuffling cards, bursts of laughter, and animated strategy talk wove together into a lively backdrop. Contestants were locked in deep focus, each card played or held the product of careful deliberation; between partners, attack and defence flowed in smooth rhythm, every well-executed combination drawing cheers from the crowd. This was more than a showcase of individual skill — it was a display of precision teamwork and unspoken understanding. After several fiercely contested rounds, the champions emerged to claim the 600-yuan cash prize, followed closely by the runners-up with 400 yuan. Our warmest congratulations to all the winning teams! The intelligence and collaborative spirit they demonstrated at the card table are a perfect reflection of how Tavol people pull together and strive for excellence in their everyday work.
The fierce competition of the Guandan Tournament carried on all the way to mealtime. As the championship final drew to a close, everyone trickled to their tables for dinner, still buzzing with excitement and reluctant to let the game end. Jinyuan Mountain Villa's signature dish — free-range chicken slow-cooked over a wood-fired stove — was a highlight in its own right. Savouring authentic farmhouse fare amid such mountain and lake scenery lent the meal a flavour all its own. Around the tables, people relived the tournament's standout moments, while also swapping reflections on the past half-year's work and light-hearted stories from daily life. Even before dinner, many teams had already seized the chance to snap group photos by Tianlong Reservoir, set against the villa's stunning backdrop. The shimmering lake, the layered silhouette of distant peaks, the smiling faces of colleagues — all of it was captured and preserved in those frames. These photographs are not just cherished keepsakes of this team building experience; they are a living testament to the bond and spirit that hold the Tavol family together.
Half a year has slipped away in the blink of an eye. Looking back, we have grown amid challenges and reaped rewards through hard work. Looking ahead, the journey for the second half of the year has fully unfolded. As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, we must "promote entrepreneurship, dare to forge ahead and act boldly, and devote ourselves to making enterprises stronger, better and bigger."
Taking this team-building activity as a new starting point, TAVOL Group will embrace every challenge in the second half of the year with a more proactive mindset and higher morale.
Refreshed in nature, united for greatness. Let us channel the laughter and passion of this retreat into drive and momentum at work, and carry the chemistry and coordination forged at the card table into the collaboration and problem-solving of our projects. With every Tavol colleague pulling together, we are confident that the second half of the year will scale new heights — and that Tavol Group will go on to achieve even greater brilliance!
