Your current location:HOME >sport >How China Transformed into a Leading Economy 正文
TIME:2024-05-08 16:22:21 Source: Internet compilationEdit:sport
Contact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom
Bruce Connolly, a writer and photographer from the United Kingdom, has been living in China for 36 years. He has used his cameras to record Chinese lives and development, in all segments of society. In this article, he writes about the great changes that have occurred in China since implementation of the reform and opening up policy. [Photo from Bruce Connolly] |
China today is so vastly different from what I first saw 36 years ago, in 1987. The beauty of the landscape, along with precious historic architectural treasures, which really impressed me, of course have not changed. However, much else has, including urbanization, modern infrastructure and the aspirations of so many people.
In 1987, I travelled overland by railway from Scotland, my destination Hong Kong. Heading south through China, I had very little knowledge of the country. My initial impressions were of a land so different from my Scottish homeland. The cities appeared to be lagging behind in areas, such as advanced technology, personal lifestyles and opportunities that we took for granted back in my homeland. The countryside, which I found very beautiful, somewhat felt very traditional.
Such impressions stayed with me until just before crossing into Hong Kong. Suddenly, I saw a bright, modern, well-planned city. I was puzzled. Where was I? It was Shenzhen, a city I had never heard of. Yet, it would prove to be one of China's greatest success stories. I was looking upon the start of massive ambitions and policies that would deliver considerable changes for China and its people. Changes that would be on a scale no other country could ever have contemplated. Policies, steadily introduced, would fundamentally modernize not just the country's urban appearance, but dramatically change lifestyles for so many people in only a short period of time. China would acquire a reputation for rapid, indeed, massive transformation.
Shenzhen, then a small town, was designated a special economic zone (SEZ), becoming a key player at the center of China's reform and opening up. This concept, adopted under the leadership of then-Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping (1904-1997), in late 1978, would not just transform much of China, but also push it rapidly upward, toward its current place as the world's second-largest economy, after the United States.
China's reform and opening up certainly worked, as I would witness over many years of watching this country's incredible progress, from "yesterday, today and towards tomorrow." Policies that would help lift about 800 million people out of low-living standards, particularly in rural areas.
In 1987, Guangzhou was the last stop on my railway journey before taking the "Through Train" to Hong Kong. Then, it still felt like an older river port, with little modernization.
In 1992, returning to Guangzhou, I lived and worked there for a year, helping with English-language proficiency, an essential for ongoing development of international commerce. It was an incredible experience to be there at that time.
In only five years, since 1987, the city had changed considerably. An extensive area, which was growing around Huanshi East Road, boasted excellent international hotels, modern shopping facilities, financial buildings and more.
Although Guangzhou was not an SEZ, it was the capital of South China's Guangdong Province, at the apex of the Pearl River Delta. I saw many Western business experts and engineers coming to live and work in the city. Infrastructure, such as railways, was rapidly being upgraded. One of China's first key expressways was under construction to Shenzhen, with connections into Hong Kong.
The dynamism was incredible to watch and experience. My students would share with me their aspirations. Most had come to Guangzhou, from smaller provincial towns or villages, with some desire to continue onto Shenzhen upon completing their studies.
Other changes I noticed in Guangzhou included dining and entertainment becoming increasingly international. The influx and growing numbers of expats resulted in Western restaurants, fast-food outlets and bars, along with the opening of foreign, often high-end, consumer brands. Locals, who had lived generally quiet, traditional lives, were suddenly trying new dining experiences, shopping for fashionable clothes and more.
The urban scale of Guangzhou was growing at an incredible pace. It was pushing outward, incorporating what earlier were rural villages. Super tall buildings increasingly dominated the skyline.
Guangdong Province was to be the testing ground, to judge how successful the reform and opening up would be. Gradually the policy was rolled out from that southern test bed, ultimately spreading nationwide.
[Photo by Bruce Connolly] |
The development of China's vast, high-speed rail network, and the nationwide growth of aviation, surely were results of the process starting with reform and opening up. Over subsequent years, I would travel across China, observing how the country would be impacted by the reforms.
In 1996, my first visit to Shanghai was fascinating. The Puxi side of Huangpu River was home to classical, Western-style architecture that for many years formed seemingly timeless, iconic images of Shanghai. However, across the river is Pudong — formerly an area of farmland, villages and boat docks. In 1990, it was chosen to be a new development zone, based on the noticeable success of reform and opening up. Today, it has become the financial hub of China. Over the years, I watched the city's steady growth, unthinkable without the policy traced back to 1978.
[Photo by Bruce Connolly] |
Beijing, China's historic capital and renowned for its traditional hutong, would develop some years later. Beijing has transformed into a major business center, with the still ongoing construction of a central business district (CBD) at Guomao. Today, some of the world's highest buildings rise there.
Again, the contemporary lifestyle and trends of many young people have been fascinating to watch, and so different to those of their parents in the 1980s and 1990s. Much of Beijing today is so different to what I saw in 1987, when it was regarded as "capital of the bicycle" — the city's expressways now home to some of the world's finest automobiles.
My explorations across China have taken me to the remote corners of the northwest and southwest. Infrastructure construction has facilitated opening up. This has allowed relatively affluent domestic tourists to visit these scenically attractive areas, home for many ethnic groups, so facilitating a spreading of prosperity across the nation.
Much has happened since reform and opening up. Each step has been carefully studied, and gradually those successful practices are being applied to other parts of the country.
Travelling today around China, the positive results of those early experiments are there for all to see.
(Women of China English Monthly December 2023)
32.3KPlease understand that womenofchina.cn,a non-profit, information-communication website, cannot reach every writer before using articles and images. For copyright issues, please contact us by emailing: [email protected]. The articles published and opinions expressed on this website represent the opinions of writers and are not necessarily shared by womenofchina.cn.
Zelensky 'assassination plot foiled' as Ukraine detains two of its own counter2024-05-08 16:12
F1 now makes 3 stops a season in the United States. Could Miami become a victim of oversaturation?2024-05-08 16:00
Mexican forensic examiners are at a site in Baja California where 3 bodies were reportedly found2024-05-08 15:06
MLB and Nike announce 2025 uniforms will have larger jersey lettering and custom2024-05-08 15:02
China to ease tour restrictions for festival2024-05-08 14:58
Boeing threatens to lock out its private firefighters around Seattle in a dispute over pay2024-05-08 14:39
California man who testified against Capitol riot companion is sentenced to home detention2024-05-08 14:24
NBA conference semifinal preview capsules2024-05-08 14:06
China beats Indonesia to claim its 16th Uber Cup title2024-05-08 13:58
Heartbreak as Arizona father finds three2024-05-08 13:47
Investing in China is a superior option for multinationals2024-05-08 16:09
New Seattle coach Mike Macdonald takes it all in during first day of Seahawks rookie minicamp2024-05-08 15:40
The Lakers fire coach Darvin Ham after just 2 seasons in charge and 1st2024-05-08 15:18
Judge says gun found in car of Myon Burrell, sentenced to life as teen, can be evidence in new case2024-05-08 15:16
Minnesota ethics panel to consider how to deal with senator charged with burglary2024-05-08 15:01
Chet Holmgren and Lu Dort anchor elite Thunder defense heading into second round of NBA playoffs2024-05-08 14:58
Boeing threatens to lock out its private firefighters around Seattle in a dispute over pay2024-05-08 14:30
Bystander livestreams during Charlotte standoff show an ever2024-05-08 14:21
3 arrested in NYC after driver strikes pro2024-05-08 14:00
Yellen says threats to democracy risk US economic growth, an indirect jab at Trump2024-05-08 13:43