Entrepreneur brings slice of Germany to Wuxi

She highlights the relatively low tax rates and the ease of setting up payment systems like WeChat and Alipay, powered by China's internet of things (IoT) revolution.

The only thing I would have liked which I couldn't do, was to have some small chairs and tables outside the bakery for my customers, she says.

But sourcing some of the ingredients for the products proved difficult, especially getting the right flour for her traditional German sour bread, meaning she is forced to rely on imports.

Despite the expense of opening a new business and the difficulties of creating high-quality German bread and cakes in China, the entrepreneur's business is now thriving –– and it's not hard to see why.

With everything from coffee, pretzels and sour bread; to cheesecake, tea and German beer –– Cao is able to offer customers an authentic European bakery experience.

And her formula is proving such a success that she now has a steady stream of regular customers, including many who place large orders.

While a lot of foreigners buy my products, around 60 percent of my clientele are Chinese, she says.

Local Swiss expat Astrid Fehr, 59, is a regular customer of Cao's. And while she claims not to buy many foreign products, she is willing to make an exception for Alps.

"I like going to Alps because the owner is a lovely person, and I admire her for opening her own business. I like her pretzels most of all, but all her bread is good and she uses high-quality ingredients," explains Fehr.

Many of Cao's regular customers are members of her bakery's WeChat group, where she shares the latest products that she's made and takes orders.

She's really friendly and has created a unique business; she doesn't follow trends and is bringing European culture to Chinese customers, says Tian Xiaona, 42.

Recently, she has seen an increased number of orders from large companies buying European-style snacks for their staff. And this is an area where Cao hopes to expand.

But she faces challenges in producing products in large enough quantities to meet demand.

At the moment Cao works 10 hours a day in the bakery, with only the occasional few hours off, thanks to the assistance of her nephew.

However, the energetic entrepreneur doesn't fear hard work and is now looking to expand her business and open more bakeries in other cities.

I am looking for good, reliable partners to help expand what I have built here, but I have to be careful as many simply want to copy my recipes and open their own bakeries, she says.

But with her thriving Wuxi business, and her obvious passion and determination for what she does, there is probably a good chance that one of Cao's bakeries will soon be opening in a city near you.