Far from the bright lights of Japan's shopping districts, however, young Chinese working in small industrial firms get anything but red-carpet treatment.

ECONOMIST: The Chinese in Japan

That will limit competition, helping BYD and other small, hungry Chinese auto firms like Geely, Shuanghuan and Chery.

FORBES: Thanks, Now Move Over

In fact, in many communities large and small across the U.S., Chinese firms are opening up operations or acquiring businesses.

FORBES: China Has $2 Trillion to Invest in the USA

Other managers, including Robert Horrocks, chief investment officer at Matthews International Capital Management, are increasingly hunting for Chinese small caps, which have been harder hit than larger firms over the past two years as banks tightened their lending standards, but are expected to gain as financing opportunities improve, he says.

WSJ: With Bad News Pouring Out Of China, Fund Managers Rush In

But the Chinese firms were chipping away in the smaller towns and villages, building direct-sales armies to work with small shops.

FORBES: Magazine Article