Witnessing five decades of change

The People's Republic of China has transformed since it was founded in 1949.

Jaime FlorCruz, who first arrived in the country from the Philippines in 1971 for a three-week study tour, is a witness to many landmark changes.

But due to the worsening political situation back home, FlorCruz got stuck in China.

He went on to become a journalist for Time magazine and CNN, covering China's highs and lows for more than 30 years.

In this special CGTN series titled "Changing China," Jaime FlorCruz looks back at some of the changes he's witnessed throughout the years.

Looking back at decades of reform and opening-up

In the first episode of "Changing China," Jaime FlorCruz revisits the place where his China story began – Shenzhen.

The country's southern gateway has served as a testing ground for the government's reform and opening-up policy.