Meeting people along the waterway

I was fortunate enough to film China Daily's documentary series about the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up.

I was able to speak to 39 interviewees face-to-face during our 35-day journey to learn how the policy has transformed their lives.

We interviewed a crane operator who became a photographer, using his elevated workplace to snap amazing photos of The Bund in Shanghai.

His story shows how ordinary people have created China's economic miracle.

We also visited Wuxi, Jiangsu province, a second-tier city with GDP of more than 1 trillion yuan ($146 billion).

A decade ago, more than 200 chemical plants polluted the water in Zhoutie township.

Previously, Wuxi's growth relied on such backward and polluting enterprises, but its industrial composition has now shifted toward greener and higher-end businesses.

We interviewed a resident who closed his chemical plant and began cultivating grapes instead.

His story illustrates how the local people have become more aware of environmental protection.

We also filmed the world's largest wholesale market in Yiwu, Zhejiang province.

The city was once a poor, backward farming settlement. Today, it hosts traders and goods from around the world.

It's hard to imagine such drastic changes in just 40 years.

We visited a manufacturer of optical fiber in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, which demonstrates China's technological progress since the start of reform and opening-up.

In Chongqing, we enjoyed delicious hotpot and rode a cable car across the Yangtze River.

We met bangbang porters, a group that is disappearing as the hilly city's transportation infrastructure improves.

We saw how Guizhou, one of China's poorest provinces, is boosting its economy with big data, which is even being used for the cultivation of kiwifruit.

By interviewing people from all walks of life, I was able to understand the changes brought by reform and opening-up.

China still faces many challenges, such as pollution, uncoordinated development and wealth gaps. No matter, all hardworking Chinese believe in an even brighter future.