Top: File photo taken in 1961 by Wu Chunzhan shows technicians restoring clay sculptures unearthed from a tomb of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) in Turpan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Bottom: Photo taken on July 30, 2019 by Hu Huhu shows Liang Jiangbing (L), Gao Yumin (C) and Guan Yi restoring cultural relics at a conservation center of Xinjiang Museum in Urumqi of Xinjiang. Simple tools are now replaced by new methods that combines modern equipment and traditional handicraft for cultural relics restoration. 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)
