Our Story: Beijing grandpa keeps calendar shop documenting 40 years of history

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One of Beijing's hidden gems is a store you'll find in the Chinese capital's iconic hutongs. Open for nearly 40 years, owner Jin Anguang has made and sold colorful Chinese calendars. They feature images of the country at different stages since its reform and opening up process began in the late 1970's. In today's "Our Story", CGTN's Zhao Yunfei talks to grandpa Jin about his remarkable business.

JIN "Are the letters too big?"

CUSTOMER "No. How much is it?"

JIN "This should be 35 Yuan. Just give me 15 Yuan."

CUSTOMER "How about 10?"

JIN "10 is fine."

JIN ANGUANG CALENDAR SHOP OWNER "My name is Jin Anguang. I am 72 years old. I have been selling wall calendars for 40 years, ever since China's opening up."

Jin "You can't get it anywhere else. For 40 years, rain or shine. Whomever comes in, I have something for them."

JIN ANGUANG CALENDAR SHOP OWNER "Wall calendars have become less popular since about 2000. But these are traditional items. And some still say they need hard calendars. That's why I have to keep things going here."

JIN "This one is from 1985. Look at this. It is a calendar of beauty."

FRIEND "It's from 1985."

JIN "Yes."

FRIEND "You can call it a collection."

JIN "Of course. The models are beautiful!"

FRIEND "Their clothing was very revealing for that time."

JIN "The way they dressed back then was very different. You never see women dress like that. They were so open."

FRIEND "Their outfits were so unique."

JIN "That's right."

JIN "This is a calendar with paintings from Yangliuqing."

FRIEND "Yangliuqing is a Tianjin artwork."

JIN "And it is popular."

FRIEND "Are they printed on carved boards?"

JIN "Yes."

FRIEND "These paintings were usually given as new years' gifts."

JIN "To bestow good luck on those receiving the calendars."

FRIEND "It's called the five blessings."

JIN "Right."

SHANG QIMING JIN'S FRIEND "Jin's business was very successful in the 80's. His old shop was a bigger place at Ping'anli. That store looked a lot like this one. Every new year, many people bought calendars from him."

JIN ANGUANG CALENDAR SHOP OWNER "I have to serve people with my whole heart. Even if I only have one customer a day, it makes me feel happy to help others. My wife is sick now. She is not feeling well. I go to the hospital to see her every other day, just to make her happy."

CHEN LIN DOCTOR OF JIN'S WIFE "Jin's wife was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She has two symptoms: One is depression, and other is mania. In her case, mania is the greater problem. Every time the disease comes, she cannot control herself, and she will lose her temper."

LIU LANPING JIN'S WIFE "Today Doctor Chen talked with me. He said I must have come to this hospital over ten times. I said I was a patient ever since I was 18. I came once a year after retirement. One of the nurses advised me not to leave the hospital in such a hurry. We were in a rush in years past."

JIN "Okay."

JIN ANGUANG CALENDAR SHOP OWNER "Every time she went to the hospital, I wanted to cry. I feel so bad for her. But her sickness does not scare me. For her and for my customers, I have to keep my business going."

QIAN "I was born in 1973."

QIAN "Do you have a calendar of 1973?"

QIAN "When I was born, the country was very poor."

JIN "Look at the county doctor. People were very proud of their village doctors back then."

QIAN "So, this is the village doctor. They served the villages and community. So that was very popular at that time."

JEAN VERGNOLLE JIN'S NEIGHBOUR "It's like a treasure, because it's something we are not used to seeing. You know the traditional paintings, the cuttings, the silk, the dress and so on. It's like a little museum."

QIAN "It's like an opera dress. Look at this pattern. Our heritage and nationality are unique, like how the Eiffel Tower is for Paris, or how Kimonos are for Japan. This is Chinese."

QIAN "Don't you think your job is interesting? You are not alone. You are staying with these works by ancient masters."

QIAN "The calendars can bring back good memories. And those memories can add color to your current life. I am jealous of what you are doing! It's so romantic."

QIAN FANG JIN'S NEIGHBOUR "Deep down inside him, he has the original intention to keep the calendars. And it made us almost cry. How many people can do one thing for 40 years? He is protecting all these traditions from disappearing. He loves this country and he has passion for Beijing. And that I think it's not just a gallery, it's like our country, our party, our people's spiritual dream."

JIN ANGUANG CALENDAR SHOP OWNER "Now you can find calendars in e-books, and of course on your smartphone. But most older people still prefer to have a hard copy one for its pictures. They associate the calendars with old times. I will run this business for another ten years."