Uplifting a Nation
China’s 40 years of reform and opening up has brought tangible benefits to its people and the world
Beijing resident Li Zhangzhe, 58, still keeps a pair of sunglasses he bought nearly 40 years ago. “It was the most popular style at that time because of the U.S. TV series Man from Atlantis, which was broadcast in China, and every young man hoped to have a pair,” recalled Li. He said the hero of the TV series, Mark Harris, usually wore the glasses on screen. “We called it Mark glasses. If you wore a pair on the street, you would definitely be the focus.”
In the early stage of China’s reform and opening up, it was very difficult for young people to get the fashion items that could make them look cool, according to Li. So many people went to Guangzhou in south China or nearby Hong Kong to buy trendy things such as stylish sunglasses, foldable umbrellas, electronic watches and cassette recorders, and sold them in other cities like Beijing. Li finally bought his sunglasses for 40 yuan ($26.7 according to the exchange rate at that time), which was equivalent to the average monthly salary in Beijing then.
“I was so amazed to see all these accessories from Hong Kong and I said to myself, ‘What a wonderful world! Why didn’t I know this earlier?’” said Li.
He is one of many who can bear witness to the changes in China as it transitioned from an industrially underdeveloped country not even able to produce a folding umbrella to the world major economy. Today “made in China” and “created in China” are popular worldwide and include products like satellites and high-speed trains.
“From when you could buy nothing to now being able to buy almost anything you want, it has taken China 40 years, and the 40 years have greatly changed our lives,” said Li.
The change all began at the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), held from