In the 75 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the nation has undergone a remarkable evolution across all aspects of people's daily life. These transformations have been magical, reflecting upgrades in people's lives through the long march towards modernization.
Fashionable to the fingertips
In the early 1950s, clothes were mostly monochrome. But as people embraced new lives, they were just as eager to dress with more changes. Therefore, China has constantly developed the textile industry.
In 30 years of learning from foreign countries and independent innovation, materials such as vinylon and synthetic fiber started to be widely used. In the 1970s and 1980s, the domestic market matured, and Western influences introduced diverse clothing styles. Since then, China has become the world factory. After joining the World Trade Organization, China aligned with global fashion trends, and the presence of international brands increased. People wanted to express their personality through their clothes and styles became diverse, offering a wide range of options.
In the last decade, digital technology revolutionized fashion in China. The wearable tech such as bluetooth headsets and e-watches become mainstream.
Eating healthy
In the 1950s, food supply was a challenge. As China became more developed and open, and agricultural technology advanced substantially in the 1990s — most notably the development of hybrid rice by agronomist Yuan Longping — people had enough to eat and wished for variety in their diets.
In the 21st century, modern agricultural technologies such as hydroponics and precision farming significantly improved crop yields and quality. Improved food safety testing technologies ensured that products were effectively monitored from farm to table. Today people start to seek a healthier, wellness-focused diet. Whole grains, fruits, and vegetables have replaced meats as popular healthy choices.
Living in greater comfort
When the PRC was founded, a house usually meant a basic shelter. Most residences had no electricity or tap water and many homes did not have toilets. In the 1970s, the housing allocation policy led to a preponderance of tube-shaped apartment buildings.
Reform and opening-up started in 1978 and was like timely rain to crops. Several encouraging policies were implemented, prompting people to "move into cities and build them up." Since then, the urban population began to grow significantly.
With the widespread use of new building materials such as bricks, cement, and tiles, better-quality residential buildings began to be constructed in the 1980s. After 2000, the acceleration of digitization enabled seamless operation of lighting, television sets and other home appliances. With just a tap on their smartphone, people could effortlessly control all these devices.
Transport on fast track
In the early days of the republic, the infrastructure was underdeveloped. In cities, residents mainly used bicycles and public transportation. For long-distance travel, there were the iconic green trains first built in the 1950s.
From 1950 to 1980, China's transportation landscape underwent a profound transformation. New roads replaced old dirt paths. Hard-to-build railways like the Chengdu-Chongqing line were successfully implemented.
Since 1980, China's transportation sector has entered a rapid growth phase. With emulsified asphalt and prestressed concrete bridges, roads have significantly improved. In 1988, China's first highway was opened to traffic.
As the new millennium arrived, the highway and railway network expanded swiftly, connecting major cities and regions. Private cars started to become popular and travel by air became more convenient and cheaper. By the end of 2023, China's operational railway network reached 159,000 kilometers. The high-speed railway in China has now entered the era of "400 kilometers per hour". Highways surpassed five million kilometers and navigable waterways exceeded one million kilometers. There are 259 civil aviation transport airports, and annual inter-regional passenger trips exceeded 61 billion.