Illustrating the rich tapestry of Chinese life

"Min Sheng" — meaning the people's livelihood — are two serious words in Chinese. Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), the nation has placed immense importance on its development, striving to ensure the fruits of Chinese-style modernization are shared equitably by all. A good life was the common aspiration, and improving the well-being of the people was the fundamental goal of progress.

Against this backdrop, China Daily's Times' Palette Studio embarked on a unique project: a series of illustrations capturing the essence of "Min Sheng". Using "time" as the warp and "Min Sheng" as the weft, they wove a tapestry of life across 24 hours, each hour represented by a standalone illustration rendered with the delicate touch of watercolor.

These 24 scenes, distinct yet interconnected, showcase concrete examples of the country's economic development, education, healthcare, elder care, employment, technology, culture, agriculture and national defense.

Each illustration was a singular "Chinese expression", collectively forming a warm and expansive scroll of the people's livelihood. From the dazzling neon lights of the city to the solitary, cold moon hanging over the borderlands, from the precision instruments in a high-tech laboratory to the comforting aroma of street food vendors, these scenes vividly capture the warmth and strength of the Chinese people's lives in this new era. The story unfolds through snapshots of these 24 illustrations, each a window into a specific moment of the day, a specific facet of life in China.