How about a journey beneath the surface? Xiaoping Station. It is not just a stop on Guangzhou Metro Line 8. It is a portal to stories of reform and progress.
Xiaoping Station opened on November 26, 2020. It became part of the northern extension of Line 8. This station is more than concrete and steel. It represents China’s rapid modernization.
Think about Deng Xiaoping’s Southern Tour in 1992. It was a pivotal moment. Deng Xiaoping visited Guangzhou. His tour aimed to reinforce his “Reforms and Opening-up” program. This initiative had stalled after the Tiananmen Square protests.
The 1992 Southern Tour saved Chinese economic reform. It also preserved societal stability. Deng’s message was clear. Promote reform. Do not hold back.
Deng wished Guangdong province would catch up with the “Four Asian Tigers.” He wanted this in terms of economic development within 20 years. His famous quote echoes here. “I don’t care if the cat is black or white. As long as it catches mice.”
Imagine the debates within the Chinese Communist Party. Some feared reforms would weaken socialist principles. Deng Xiaoping pushed forward. He saw the dissolution of the Soviet Union as a reason to open up more.
Initially, national media ignored Deng’s tour. They were under the control of his political rivals. Hong Kong reporters broke the story. Shenzhen Special Zone Daily later gave a detailed report. This was without central government approval.
Deng Xiaoping emphasized boldness. He said, “[The Shenzhen government] should be bolder in carrying out the Reforms and Opening-up. Dare to make experiments and should not act as women with bound feet.”
Deng’s visit also saved China’s capital market. He addressed concerns about stock exchanges. “It’ll take careful study to determine whether stocks and the stock market are good for socialism or not. Or whether they only belong to capitalism. This also means that we must first try it out.”
Xiaoping Station stands as a testament to these reforms. It connects people. It symbolizes progress. It reminds us of Deng Xiaoping’s vision for a modern China.
Consider the trains passing through. They carry dreams. They carry aspirations. They carry the legacy of Deng Xiaoping’s Southern Tour. A tour that reshaped China. A tour that echoes in every corner of Guangzhou.