Years of Change

This month the Museum of the Chinese Revolution presents a special exhibition of over 2,000 items that takes you on a tour through the enormous changes that have taken place in all aspects of life since the birth of New China. The exhibition, entitled "China 1978-1998," covers the areas of politics, the economy, science, culture, sports and the military.

"The last 20 years since the beginning of the opening and reform policy have been the fastest developing period of China, and these exhibits bear witness to the great changes," said Chen Yu, in charge of the collection for the exhibition.

The exhibits were gathered through a nationwide collection and donation campaign. Since the media reported the news in October, eager donors have been streaming through the museum's north gate. In the first week, the collection group received so many calls that the telephone system broke down.

The most precious donations include the original document giving the verdict on Jiang Qing, a model of China's earliest rocket, the toolbox used for the final connection of the Asia-Europe Continental Bridge, a Chinese fire-fighter's certificate issued in Kuwait during the Gulf War, and the first HK$100 bank note issued by Bank of China in 1994.

The most eye-catching items are the variety of colorful tickets that symbolize the days of the planned economy. At that time, people had to possess the relevant tickets in order to buy the goods they needed, from daily necessities such as cloth, food and oil to large items such as bicycles and furniture.

Chen was moved when he talked about donations from individuals: "Every piece tells a touching story," he said.

On November 9, a middle-aged man from Shandong came specially to donate his collection of grain tickets from the autonomous regions when he heard they were just what the museum had spent months searching for.

Seventy-two year old Professor Yang Jichuan from Shanxi donated his and Professor Du Zhenbin's work "An Analysis of the Industrial Economy" to the museum after he saw the announcement on TV. The book was the first industrial economy monograph published (in March 1979) after the Third Complete Session of the Eleventh Congress of the Communist Party of China, which heralded the beginning of the opening and reform policy.

Yin Modong, business manager of Swarovski's Beijing office, was born in 1958, and for every birthday his mother took him to a photo studio to take a picture. The pictures each bear strong characteristics of their time. For eight consecutive years, Yin wears the old-fashioned Chinese tunic suit. On the photo taken at the Red Flag photo studio in 1967, Chairman Mao's words "Children united, learn to be the new masters of New China" is printed. "Be loyal to Chairman Mao Forever" is printed on his birthday photo of 1969.

Chen says he believes the exhibition will serve as a good lesson for young people especially. "It's good to learn something from history, so that we should treasure today's life much more."

Museum of the Chinese Revolution: east side of Tian'anmen Square.

For exact dates and hours, call 86(0)10-65129347.

Grain Tickets: