From having almost no trade to becoming the world's biggest trading nation, we show you every step along China's journey. Through personal stories, you can find out how China broke the ice in trading with other countries, meet the people behind the state of the art logistics hubs, and listen to the accounts of people who shaped the way trade is conducted.

China's transformation into the world's market is shown through the lives of Brazilian cattle farmers, Filipino pineapple growers, Australian iron ore miners, and many more. Their stories show that trade is not just about growth statistics or bank balances, it is also about shared progress, integration of peoples and common development.

The Chinese market is the largest contributor to global growth, at almost a third. Satisfying potentially 1.4 billion Chinese consumers brings vast business opportunities across the planet. 

This episode takes you around the world to see how China's transformation into the world's market is driving growth and improving the lives of ordinary people.

Yangshan Port is the world's largest container port, handling more than 60,000 tons of goods per hour and serving over 160 countries and more than 200 shipping routes.

From a small fishing village with less than 200 people to the world's largest port, the stunning transformation of Yangshan Port is a reflection of China's development over the past 70 years. The Yangshan Port of today is fully automated, cutting costs and increasing efficiency. The key is the guided automated vehicles that can operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year round.

Middleman, trading company CEO and start-up entrepreneur Alaini from Yemen has lived in China for 28 years. Each year, he helps almost 4,000 foreign clients find the best-selling items in Yiwu.

Yiwu is the world's largest small goods wholesale market. Each day tens of millions of parcels are sent from there to over 200 countries and regions around the world. That has spawned an industry and agents who help bring buyers and sellers together. Alaini is one of Yiwu's most famous middlemen.

Two-hundred family workshops in Huangqiao, a town in east China's Jiangsu Province, produce parts that satisfy the entire global market of 40 million violins.

Qinyun town produces over 700,000 violins every year that are sold to more than 90 countries and regions. The violins take up over 70 percent of the Chinese market and over a third of the global market. Each violin has more than 60 parts, which can all be found in Huangqiao.

Sanyuanli is a fresh food market on Beijing's East Third Ring Road as well as a gathering place for those in the food and beverage industry.

Sanyuanli market, found in the city's embassy district, may only have 139 stalls, but it offers ingredients from around the world – all fresh and beautifully presented. Spanish chef Paulo visits it every day.

Internet technology opens another window for China to trade with the world

Tmall international is China's largest cross border e-commerce platform. It has introduced over 20,000 brands from 77 countries and regions into China, spanning more than 4,000 types of goods. Entering the huge Chinese market is a priority for many brands. One foreigner helping them do that on Tmall is Dean, who has lived in China for 11 years and now wishes to bring Rwanda's excellent coffee into China.