'Welcome to China' thirty four years ago remains true today

In 1987, as the train approached the border from Mongolia, I felt somewhat apprehensive. Crossing between countries could sometimes feel tense. Arriving at Erenhot, where immigration checks would be conducted, music was playing from platform loudspeakers and colored lights adorned the buildings. As I looked out from a corridor window, a fellow passenger approached, smiling. His words, "Welcome to China", we shook hands. Mr Li, returning home to Beijing from Europe, took me for a walk around the station, chatting. The next day, after arriving at Beijing's main terminal, Mr Li spoke briefly, bidding farewell while he pointed to a large sign above the platform. It read, "Welcome to Beijing". I had finally arrived! 34 years later, much of that urban scene has changed, but the feeling of 'Welcome' has remained!

Over the next few days I was gaining impressions, taking numerous photographs before a 35 hour journey south to Guangzhou. Fascinating, although compared to my homeland, the rural areas very low in technology, steam locomotives operating on some railway lines. Suddenly the scene changed a few minutes before crossing into Hong Kong. Different to what I saw over the previous few days, it was a modern urban landscape, Shenzhen.

Back in Scotland, delivering numerous talks to audiences on that railway adventure, I mentioned Shenzhen. Few had heard of it but I kept saying "Something big is happening today in China, the country is going to develop fast. We must start learning more about China!" Modern Shenzhen started to rise from 1980, a result of 'Reform and Opening-up'. It was the country's leading Special Economic Zone.

Five years later, I returned to work in Guangzhou. Shenzhen had grown considerably, Guangzhou undergoing massive change. My 12 months stay gave me opportunities to not only explore much of that city, but also surrounding rural areas and neighbouring provinces including Hainan pre-tourism!