Europe

Chinese billionaire treats 3,000 workers to paella in Spain

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Chinese conglomerate Tiens Group employers are severed Paella in Madrid, Spain, Friday, May 6, 2016. The billionaire founder of Chinese conglomerate Tiens Group is treating 3,000 of his best salespeople to a traditional Spanish paella meal in a free Madrid trip that also includes a bullfight and a tour of King Felipe VI's Royal Palace. The smiling salespeople washed down their heaping plates of paella with sangria Friday at a mass spread of picnic tables in a riverside park during the event footed by Li Jinyuan and organized by China's U Tour travel company. (AP Photo/Paul White) (The Associated Press)

Chinese conglomerate Tiens Group employers take photos while waiting to be served Paella in Madrid, Spain, Friday, May 6, 2016. The billionaire founder of Chinese conglomerate Tiens Group is treating 3,000 of his best salespeople to a traditional Spanish paella meal in a free Madrid trip that also includes a bullfight and a tour of King Felipe VI's Royal Palace. The smiling salespeople washed down their heaping plates of paella with sangria Friday at a mass spread of picnic tables in a riverside park during the event footed by Li Jinyuan and organized by China's U Tour travel company. (AP Photo/Paul White) (The Associated Press)

A Chinese conglomerate Tiens Group employee smiles after being served Paella in Madrid, Spain, Friday, May 6, 2016. The billionaire founder of Chinese conglomerate Tiens Group is treating 3,000 of his best salespeople to a traditional Spanish paella meal in a free Madrid trip that also includes a bullfight and a tour of King Felipe VI's Royal Palace. The smiling salespeople washed down their heaping plates of paella with sangria Friday at a mass spread of picnic tables in a riverside park during the event footed by Li Jinyuan and organized by China's U Tour travel company. (AP Photo/Paul White) (The Associated Press)

The billionaire founder of Chinese conglomerate Tiens Group is treating 3,000 of his best salespeople to a traditional Spanish paella dinner during a free Madrid trip that also includes a bullfight and a tour of King Felipe VI's Royal Palace.

The smiling crowds washed down heaping plates of paella with sangria Friday at a massive spread of picnic tables in a riverside park during the event footed by Li Jinyuan and organized by China's U Tour travel company.

U Tour deputy manager Zhang Xilai says the tour for the group of mostly health care products salespeople cost 7 million euros ($8 million).

The trip comes a year after Li took 6,400 to France.

Zhang says fewer salespeople went this year because of higher sales targets and stiffer competition in China.