It has been forty years since China's Reform and Opening-up(改革开放). Let's see how China has changed through the years.
1978—1988: New Look
In a 1978 Japanese documentary(记录片)China's New Look, there was a scene showing Chinese people' life back then. In front of an old-fashioned TV set, some Shanghainese gathered around to watch a TV show. In 1981, only one out of every 170 city families in China had a color TV.
1988—1998:
In October 1990, the first McDonald's on the Chinese mainland opened for business in Shenzhen. It quickly became the hottest tourist spot(旅游景点). "Many Chinese customers waited in line and shouted to the shop assistant, "I want 10 Big Macs," recalled a waiter at McDonald' s at that time.
1998—2008: Here Comes WTO
For many Chinese, the year 2001 was very unforgettable. It marked the start of a new millennium(一千年) and led to a whole new era(时代) as China joined the World Trade Organization(WTO). From 2001 to 2017, China's average(平均) growth of the import(进口) of goods and services was more than twice the world's average.
2008—2018：New Beginning
Shanghai, a city of long-time business culture, is always a step ahead in China's foreign trade. With the successful hosting of China's first import expo(展览会) in November 2018, the city went on to develop China's import business. The expo will be remembered as a new beginning for China's import history.
