China (Zhongshan) Celebrates 40 Years of Reform and Opening Up.

 
In 2018, China celebrated a pivotal milestone: the 40th anniversary of Reform and Opening-Up, an event that marked the beginning of China’s transformation from a closed, agrarian society into one of the world’s largest economies. I had the opportunity to witness part of this commemoration in Zhongshan, a city that itself has undergone immense change over the past four decades. Zhongshan, like many cities in the Pearl River Delta, has grown from a small agricultural town into a major manufacturing hub. The celebrations, which included exhibitions and events, highlighted the rapid economic and social transformations that have defined China’s progress.

As part of these celebrations, Zhongshan hosted an exhibition at its Expo Center, which I visited. Zhongshan, often overshadowed by its larger neighbors—Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai—has played a significant role in the region’s industrial rise. The city is part of the “Five Dragons of the Pearl River Delta,” which also includes the aforementioned cities and Dongguan. These cities have been central to China’s economic miracle, contributing significantly to its status as the “world’s factory.”

Upon entering the exhibit, it became clear that this wasn’t just about the 40 years since China’s economic policies shifted. It was a reflection of Zhongshan’s journey from a quiet fishing and agricultural village to a key player in global manufacturing. While I couldn't understand all of the displays (as they were mostly in Chinese), I was able to gather some fascinating insights from the visuals and exhibits.

One section displayed products from the early years of industrialization, such as old bicycles, washing machines, and cassette players—objects that were commonplace in homes during the 1980s. Seeing these relics brought back memories of my own childhood, with familiar items like dual-cassette boomboxes, which many of us used to record off the radio or make mixtapes for friends. The nostalgia was palpable, and it was fascinating to see how similar household items were between China and the West during this period.

Another part of the exhibition focused on Zhongshan’s industrial might, showcasing the region’s famed lighting and hardware industries. Zhongshan is globally renowned for manufacturing, particularly in areas like lighting, garments, and furniture. The Torch Development Zone, a key industrial hub in the city, was highlighted as well, showing how it has been at the forefront of new manufacturing technologies, including environmental tech and machinery.

Zhongshan’s transformation over the last 40 years was beautifully captured in the exhibit’s many photographs and murals. The city's connection to Sun Yat-sen, the father of modern China, was evident throughout the displays. Zhongshan is, in fact, the only city in China named after Sun Yat-sen, who was born in a nearby village. His legacy is a point of pride for the city, and his influence on the revolutionary changes that followed in China is well-documented.

Photos from 1992 showed Zhongshan’s infrastructure projects in their early stages, with rice fields visible next to the burgeoning city. I was able to identify landmarks that I’ve come to know well, such as the Zhongshan Stadium and Sun Yat-sen Park, which looked vastly different in these old pictures. Seeing how these places have evolved from rural fields to urban hubs was a stark reminder of how fast this city—and China as a whole—has grown.

In contrast, the exhibit also included representations of modern-day Zhongshan, including detailed murals of the city’s skyline and neighborhoods as they are today. It was amazing to see how the city has embraced urbanization, with sleek new developments, high-rise buildings, and vast infrastructure projects such as the Zhongshan Passenger Port, which connects the city to places like Macau and Shenzhen.

Perhaps one of the most fascinating parts of the exhibit for me was the comparison between everyday life in 1980s China and today. One display showed a typical living room from the 1980s, complete with that iconic avocado-colored refrigerator—something that many of us from the West might also remember from our childhoods. Seeing these familiar items in a Chinese setting drove home just how similar people’s lives were, despite the vast geographic and cultural distances.

Fast forward to today, and the modern Chinese home is markedly different. The exhibit contrasted that 1980s living room with a sleek, modern living room from today, showcasing the luxury and comfort that many in China’s middle class now enjoy. The difference was stark: China’s economic growth has not only changed its cities but also the daily lives of its people, from the appliances they use to the ways they spend their leisure time.

As I made my way through the exhibit, I couldn’t help but be impressed by Zhongshan’s ambitions for the future. The city continues to expand, with large-scale infrastructure projects and urban developments still underway. The Lihe Plaza, a prominent feature in the city’s landscape, is one example of this growth, with its towering buildings and vibrant commercial spaces. There are also ongoing developments in the Torch Development Zone, which is continuously attracting high-tech industries and foreign investment.

Whether you’re a history buff or simply curious about how China has changed, it was an enlightening experience to witness firsthand the dramatic evolution of this corner of the Pearl River Delta.