Section: 30 Years
Title: Dreams on Wheels
Byline: Yi Qing
Translated by Ginger Huang
The term San Da Jian (“three big items”), invented in an age of consumer product scarcity, standing for the three most wanted necessities in every household, has meant different things for every generation. However, regardless of its definition, the vehicle has never been left out, escalating every 10 years: at first the bicycle, then the motorcycle, and now the automobile. 30 years after
The age of
In the beginning of China’s reform and opening-up, a car is such a marvel that it became a trend for young women to photograph themselves standing in front of them. At that point, they couldn't dream of riding in or owning a car: it was simply too unreal.
That was when motorcycles were imported to
Ten years after its first appearance, the motorcycle fell out of the spotlight. Now it is what it is—a vehicle. The two young men are locksmiths in Changping District,
The Chinese dream of automobile began when this northern man, Lu Zhiming, envisioned his four-wheel drive in front of the jeep.
Decades of a flourishing economy have pushed the automobile dream into the reach of ordinary Chinese people. The girl who had carefully leaned against 18-91384 and dared not to dream of her own car, can drive herself to work.
The bicycle repairman finds his business has entered tough times.
This photo belongs to a girl born in 1986; it was taken by her father when she was two years old. This is when her dream of automobile began. Now a member of the army of Bei Piao ( “the
In this yard is parked a tricycle kart and a sedan. Tian, their owner, though camera shy, revealed a bigger truth through his smile: “I’m never going to separate my two vehicles. They are forever together. I treasure them both.” Mr. Tian said it took 15 years of wheel evolution to make this come possible to Tian.
But the Chinese dream doesn't stop just there. With the prevalence of environmentalism and physical fitness, the aspiration toward the “four-wheel” has now returned, once again, to the “two-wheel”.
Life goes on and new dream begins. The girl on the left is helping her grandmother put the grocery into their bicycle basket on a chilly
yiqingbm
Yi Qing is a writer and world traveler. As a freelancer, he has worked in drastically different fields as ranging from publishing, investment, film, drama, to news commentator.
