Current location:politics >>
How China Transformed into a Leading Economy
politics885People have gathered around
IntroductionContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom ...
- Home
- News
- People
- In-depth
- ACWF
How China Transformed into a Leading Economy
ByBruce Connolly January 10, 2024Bruce 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.
Comments
Magazines
Projects
- 2023 Women Science and Technology Innovation Pioneer...
Photos
- People Enjoy Blooming Tulips in Jinan, East...
- Flowers Bloom Across China in Spring
Special Coverage
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“World Wave news portal”。http://bangladesh.arandomquote.com/article-52a599858.html
Related articles
Victims of UK's infected blood scandal to receive final compensation payments
politicsLONDON (AP) — Victims of the U.K.'s infected blood scandal, in which tens of thousands of people wer ...
【politics】
Read moreLizzo thanks anti
politicsLizzo shared that anti-genocide activists have helped pull her out of a nine-month depression in a c ...
【politics】
Read moreFIFA sets date for first Women's Club World Cup. Tournament due to launch in January 2026
politicsBANGKOK (AP) — FIFA finally set a date Wednesday to play the first Women’s Club World Cup tournament ...
【politics】
Read more
Popular articles
- Hundreds of hostages, mostly women and children, are rescued from Boko Haram extremists in Nigeria
- Pregnant influencer Jadé Tuncdoruk makes a daring style statement at Australian Fashion Week
- French president is considering imposing a state of emergency in the territory of New Caledonia
- F1 management and FIA reach peace agreement to stop infighting and align on behalf of global series
- Massey, Perez hit homers to lead Royals in 8
- Olympic triathlete Taylor Knibb wins US cycling time trial to earn spot in Paris in a second sport
Latest articles
Election deniers moving closer to GOP mainstream as Trump allies fill Congress, report shows
Report: Welding at water slide caused huge fire in Sweden that killed one person
Julia Fox makes VERY risque joke about her two
Nicola Coughlan looks stylish in a black co
'IF' movie review: John Krasinski’s film hits a box office nerve with $35 million debut
Marston Hefner brands Crystal Hefner a 'master manipulator' in damning attack on his father's widow
LINKS
- Father of Olympic champion Ingebrigtsen charged with abusing one of his other children, lawyer says
- China's envoy in Washington urges US to avoid Thucydides Trap in bilateral ties
- Ancient slips mirror the rise and fall of Qin Dynasty
- Romanian artists share China travel experiences
- Dance drama honors development of China's busiest port
- Edwards and Towns lead Timberwolves into the 2nd round of the NBA playoffs for 1st time since 2004
- The Piano review: This show's standout performer? A romantic OAP with dementia, writes ROLAND WHITE
- China Movie Channel relaunches premium subscription channel
- 29 Naxals killed in gunfight with gov't forces in India's Chhattisgarh
- Ryan Giggs' pregnant girlfriend Zara Charles cuts a casual figure in tight