Top: File photo taken in the 1990s shows an assembling line of passenger trains at Changchun railway vehicles manufactory in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province. Bottom: Photo taken on June 20, 2019 by Zhang Nan shows worker Tang Jiankun (front) checking a Fuxing bullet train at the high-speed train manufacturing center of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd. in Changchun. High-speed rail is symbolic of the new structure of the Chinese economy, influencing all aspects of society. By 2020, China's high-speed rail length is expected to reach 30,000 kilometers, covering 80 percent of major cities. In 1949 when the People's Republic of China was founded, the Chinese people faced a devastated country that needed to be rebuilt from scratch after decades of warfare and chaos. After decades of unremitting endeavors and dedication by the Chinese people, China has grown to be the world's second largest economy. In 1952, China's GDP was 30 billion U.S. dollars, while in 2018, its GDP reached 13.61 trillion U.S. dollars, an increase of 452.6 times. A group of combo photos give you a glimpse of what Chinese people did decades ago and what they do right now. Undoubtedly, people from all walks of life in China with hard work and wisdom have made contributions to the country's development. (Xinhua)
