China: How it has changed since 1996

As a young man in 1972 I travelled to Hong Kong on a tour like so many others of my generation, while not being able to enter the People’s Republic of China. I said to myself one day I will return and visit the “real China”. It took the best part of 25 years before I made that journey and for me the love affair with China has never ended.

On my return to China in 1996 I went to visit a friend in Shenzhen, which was then just opening its eyes to the world, I had no idea of how large Shenzhen had become in a few short years. I am still in awe of what had happened and still continue to happen in this and other “Special Economic Zones” created by Deng Xiaoping and is a shining example of the opening-up of China.

After several days exploring Shenzhen watching the city almost grow before my eyes so rapidly was the development I began what was to be a very eventful trip. First travelling by bus to Guangzhou, then by air to Chongqing where I boarded a trading ship which carried cargo and passengers down the mighty Yangtze River to Wuhan through the famous “Three Gorges”, the site of the new mega dam and hydro power scheme. Passing scenery which could only be described as spectacular and looking up at the markings on the towering cliffs where the water level will reach after the dam is completed with sheer disbelief at the size and scope of this project.

On returning to Australia I found that my thoughts kept returning to China and my desire to find out more about this fantastic country. I began to read anything I could find and very soon discovered that much of what had been written in English was very biased and in some cases untrue.

I took another trip to China in 2000 when I travelled extensively with a small group through many provinces, cities and rural towns noticing everywhere I went there was an atmosphere of excitement and change. Renewal seemed to driving the engine along with this was the mass movement of people and there was no doubt that China was undergoing a massive change.

As I became more familiar with travel in China and was better able to communicate my first surprise was how proud the people were of their country and also how important it was to be well dressed and as this is still the case today, I believe Chinese people are more conscious of their appearance than we in the west.

China had indeed embraced the “philosophy” of Deng Xiaoping and with each passing five-year plan and more people were able to be lifted out of poverty and into a more secure and comfortable way of life and I had to see more.

By my next visit in 2002 I had become convinced that I was very fortunate to be witnessing an historical social change which had no parallel at any time since the industrial revolution and even using this benchmark is not quite valid as China’s opening-up revolution alleviated poverty and the early days of the industrial revolution often exploited poverty.

I knew now that my destiny lay in China and decided it was time for a bigger commitment and after much thought, planning and a large amount of luck in 2003 was able to gain employment at a vocational college in Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei province, which was to be my home until 2006 where I was able to work and live inside the new rapidly changing China as a resident and not a tourist.

During this time I was able to make Chinese friends with whom I am still in contact. These folks were generous and patient with this very inquisitive foreigner in their midst and welcomed me into their homes and hearts for which I am eternally grateful.

Living in Shijiazhuang was a good introduction to Chinese life and working in a college I was able to discuss China’s change with students and colleagues, unfortunately I found that not many of the other foreign teachers were interested or were perhaps just unaware how important the events which were happening around us were but as each month passed and a new building was completed or more technology became available it was obvious to me that the “engine” that was China was becoming very powerful.

Due to family commitments sadly with many tears I left China and my friends to return to Australia in July 2006 and during the time I was away I followed events in my second home closely online and by reading the China Daily for accurate news.

When I did return to China in 2012 I could hardly believe the massive changes which had occurred in a little over five years train travel had been revolutionized with ever-expanding high-speed rail networks, air travel was very competitive, construction companies were producing world best heavy engineering modules for both domestic use and also for tailored exports, new laws and rules for citizens, more certainty for both domestic and foreign investors and more transparency in legal matters, also pollution of all types had been recognized as a major national issue and controls are starting to be mandated by the central government, these changes in such a short five year timeframe would have taken 30 years in the west if it were done at all.

My journey has been a privilege and in this my 70th year I look back at some of the misconception and outright lies which have been told about China with a mixture of anger and sadness. Anger at those in a position of influence who thrive in the atmosphere of deceit and misinformation and sadness for those of my generation who’ve been unable to experience firsthand the beauty, culture and generosity available in our new and ever changing China.

The author is a retired teacher who has a long and happy association with China for over 30 years as a tourist, a teacher living and working in Shijiazhuang and finally as a husband who married in China and whose wife is Chinese.

The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and do not represent the views of China Daily and China Daily website.