<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-09-25/The-Gateway-of-Time-A-peek-at-life-in-China-during-1990s-1xaT2IVtL8I/img/8ab00db8260d4c69ac0020ce49b423cf/8ab00db8260d4c69ac0020ce49b423cf.png' alt=''
Do you remember how you felt when you finally got that imported TV your family had been saving for ages to buy? And when the smell of new furniture filled your home with joy? Did your grandma knit table cloths? Would you like to reminisce on the old times and feel again what it means to be able to achieve something that was once beyond your reach? If yes, then enter The Gateway of Time, travel back to the year of 1999 and draw parallels between your pursuit of happiness and that of a Chinese family reaping the fruits of the reform and opening up.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-09-25/The-Gateway-of-Time-A-peek-at-life-in-China-during-1990s-1xaT2IVtL8I/img/89e631051a5b45de8dc909690e5f25f6/89e631051a5b45de8dc909690e5f25f6.gif' alt=''
Crafted by CGTN to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), The Gateway of Time is an interactive AR+AI experience that transports you to homes set in three distinct periods of the PRC: the early years after the founding, the period after reform and opening up, and the modern day.
Inspired by actual houses, these virtual homes symbolically portray the general conditions of the time and space they are set in. Led by the voice of a guide, you can explore these homes and learn about some macroeconomic indicators of the times, all with a touch of a personal story we’ll leave you to unfurl.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-09-25/The-Gateway-of-Time-A-peek-at-life-in-China-during-1990s-1xaT2IVtL8I/img/429d13d2c95c40598a4a6d0a63dddce5/429d13d2c95c40598a4a6d0a63dddce5.jpeg' alt=''
One of the three homes this time portal takes you to is an apartment set in a bustling Chinese metropolis in 1999, about two decades after the introduction of the reform and opening-up policy in the country.
The modest apartment is portrayed to be the home of a young factory worker and his wife, who is a primary school teacher. The man’s parents have a background in farming, but they now spend most of their time here with their son and daughter in law. The furniture in the home, simple yet cherished, is a quiet testament to the family’s hard-earned stability. They also have some electrical appliances they have saved every penny to buy.
This was a time in China when urban households saw significant improvements in living standards as homes became more spacious and equipped with modern amenities like refrigerators, washing machines and televisions. The cities grew rapidly, with the urbanization rate nearing 35 percent and the urban employees earning a little over 8,300 yuan a year in wages.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-09-25/The-Gateway-of-Time-A-peek-at-life-in-China-during-1990s-1xaT2IVtL8I/img/03949261cc784670aa4217c63b7f98ab/03949261cc784670aa4217c63b7f98ab.gif' alt=''
In this home, you’ll see how the positive outcomes of the reform and opening-up policy and hard work have shaped a generation’s dreams. Whether it’s the joy of modern conveniences or the lasting bond between generations, this journey enables you to relive the evolution of the Chinese lifestyle in a deeply personal way.
So, grab your smart phone, tap this link and begin a journey where history, culture and modernity blend to create a powerful connection that transcends time and reminds us all of our shared dreams, struggles and triumphs.
