CHINA TRANSFORMED
The Story of a Scottish Photographer's Journey
More than 30 years ago, Bruce Connolly took a chance.
This is his story.
January 1987, Glasgow, Scotland.
Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative Party was barely six months into its third term in government before the hype cooled off - literally.
A record-breaking 'Big Freeze' almost crippled the country, with temperatures plummeting to as low as -23C in places. Hundreds of schools were forced to close as commuters battled up to 75 centimeters of snowfall.
Scotland was largely spared, relatively speaking.
But amidst the cold and chaos, a 40-year-old Bruce Connolly took some much-needed respite from the elements in a Glasgow cafe.
Earlier in the day, Bruce had popped by the local travel agents - harboring dreams of afar.
Grappling a hot coffee, he flicked through some of the magazines he’d picked up.
"I saw this idea…about China"
Already a seasoned traveler, Bruce had only just returned from a Scandinavian round-trip in the summer of '86.
But he was determined to make it to Beijing.
And he'd travel there by train.
First, a service on the West Coast Main Line from Glasgow Central to London Euston.
Then onto Holland, and up to Moscow...
...through Russia, and across the Gobi Desert to the Middle Kingdom.
First, a service on the West Coast Main Line from Glasgow Central to London Euston.
Then onto Holland, and up to Moscow...
...through Russia, and across the Gobi Desert to the Middle Kingdom.
The China that Bruce arrived in was markedly different from the China of today.
China's economic miracle, or Gǎigé kāifàng (改革开放), was well underway. The country was experiencing rapid yearly growth of GDP, at 11.7%.
But there was still much work to be done.
Bruce started teaching English in the Guangdong province, in southern China.
Guangdong's proximity to Hong Kong China meant it was one of the first regions to benefit from Deng Xiaoping's opening up of the Chinese economy.
In the midst of this huge economic change, parents wanted their children to learn new languages - particularly English.
Bruce had arrived at just the right time.
"I said to some people, 'Why is it you are studying every night?'
"They said, 'Bruce, you must have seen how poor China is compared to the West.
"'Well, if we study hard, we'll be successful. If we're successful, it will help China to be successful'."
Bruce quickly settled into life as a teacher, and continued returning to China for work for many decades in various stints.
But his real passion was photography, and he captured China’s epic transformation.
Bruce saw Beijing turn into a global metropolis, first hand.
During his stay, the city's Central Business District - commissioned in 2001 to facilitate foreign investment - started to take shape.
Bruce Connolly
Bruce Connolly
"In China, I was accepted. The people accepted me and they knew that I was there because, like, we love the country, and have great love for the people.
"I tried to align with them. I feel completely at home."
Bruce Connolly witnessed one of the greatest social, political and economic shifts in human history.
But in his eyes, one thing never changed.
