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Beijing in the 1980s: Fascinating Photos Show Street Scenes and Everyday Life

Beijing is the capital and second-largest city in China. It has a rich history dating back to millennia. As the last of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, Beijing has been the political center of the country for most of the past eight centuries. Beijing is famous for its opulent palaces, temples, parks, gardens, tombs, walls, and gates. It has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

These fascinating photos will take you back to the old Beijing in the 1980s. It was the time when the economic reforms of the 1980s accelerated the development and Beijing changed dramatically. New shopping centers and residential buildings appeared throughout the city, and high-tech industrial parks were established, especially in the suburbs. The urban area of the city expanded greatly with the completion of the 2nd Ring Road in 1981 and the subsequent addition of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Ring Roads. The city planners advised the government that Beijing would no longer attract heavy industry. The aging inner core of the city, where the historical relics are concentrated, would have low-density development and renew over time.

#1 Children go to the streets and require adults to lead

#4 Striving towards no more than 1.2 billion people in 2000

Striving towards no more than 1.2 billion people in 2000

#5 Traffic safety concerns every household’s happiness

#7 Army truck. Walking from the Beijing Hotel to the Forbidden City, along the Avenue of Eternal Peace

Army truck. Walking from the Beijing Hotel to the Forbidden City, along the Avenue of Eternal Peace

#11 Beijing traffic

Beijing traffic

#13 Beiwei street

Beiwei street

#20 Famous Lantian department store for clothes, Wangfujing

Famous Lantian department store for clothes, Wangfujing

#22 Fruit vendors near dam, probably the dam on the trip to the Ming tombs and Great Wall at Badaling

#23 Little girl and her mother

Little girl and her mother

#30 Lantian, Wangfujing

Lantian, Wangfujing

#33 Old lady, Beihai Park

Old lady, Beihai Park

#35 One of the first fast food joints in Beijing, with some brand like Donald Duck

#36 One of the first fast food joints in Beijing, with some brand like Donald Duck

#40 Population control- restrain within 1.2 billion

Population control- restrain within 1.2 billion

#43 Proud mother with twins

Proud mother with twins

#49 The girl touches her hair when looking at the haircut models

#50 The great children’s seat on the bicycle

The great children's seat on the bicycle

#53 Tian’anmen

Tian'anmen

#60 Beijing street scenes

Beijing street scenes

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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