An Insight into China through Chinese Costumes

　　 During the Great Leap Forward (1958-1962), the whole country was plunged into the steel-making industry in order to fulfill the dream of catching up with the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Blast furnaces could be seen all over the city, and every household would put iron articles into their refinery, only to yield piles of scrap iron.

　　Due to the whole country's enthusiasm for making steel and the neglect of production, the Great Leap Forward led to the retrogression of economic development, which was followed by the Cultural Revolution. At that time, all the common people took a fancy to the revolutionary hairstyle and blue clothes, and therefore were referred to as "blue ants". Then, what did that kind of dressing style represent?

　　Considering the situation, people at that time were perfect communism pursuers and capitalism opponents, who often criticized those possessing private properties, thinking everyone should live a life of the same standard. Due to the depressed economy and a lack of material supplies, plus fear of incurring troubles, people gave up classy and flaring clothes. Some girls, however, would sometimes wear a colorful shirt under their blue coat out of their love for beauty.

　　With the end of the Cultural Revolution near the end of the 1970s, Chinese people experienced enormous transformation in their way of thinking, no longer remaining interested in class struggle, while their living standards improved a lot with the implementation of economic reform. In 1979, four special economic zones -- Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou, and Xiamen (all along China's southeastern coast) -- were established, which resulted in huge increases in foreign trade volume and per capita consumption, and hence, a flourishing national economy.

　　Meanwhile, the ideological inhibition during the Cultural Revolution was lifted, as were the bans on many books and films, enriching people's information on dressing and fashion. Bell-bottom trousers was the trendy accouterment for the general people, together with the western-style suits, which were favored by people from all walks, such as rickshaw boys and noodle vendors.