The Guizhou "40 Years of Development" exhibition at the Guizhou Art Museum [Photo by Li Hanyi/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"This exhibition really takes me back. The bicycle, radio, and refrigerator on display are exactly like what we used in the 1980s," said Huo Sijian, a senior technician at the Guiyang Tobacco Factory. Huo Sijian has become a Chinese national icon due to his unmatched skills in machine repair. He was invited to the Guizhou "40 years development" exhibition at the Guizhou Art Museum.

Huo Sijian, a senior technician and Chinese national icon [Photo by Li Hanyi/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"When I got married in 1986, I bought my wife a "Flying Pigeon" bicycle as a marriage gift, the same as the one on display today. That made her really happy", said Huo. "Although my monthly salary now is over 10,000 yuan ($1,450), it is hard to believe that in 1986, I spent a hundred yuan ($28 in 1986) to buy a bike. That was one fifth of my annual salary!"

Old objects from the 1980s [Photo by Li Hanyi/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Guizhou "40 years of development" exhibition is being held at the Guizhou Art Museum in Guiyang from Dec 17, 2018 to Jan 31, 2019. The exhibition is divided into six halls falling under the following categories: "China's reform and opening-up", "Guizhou role models" and "colorful Guizhou".

The exhibition consists of objects, pictures, documents and models demonstrating the development and changes Guizhou has undergone in terms of economics, transportation, environment and technology. People can also witness the province's transformation through VR.

Shen Yiqin, vice-secretary of the CPC Guizhou Provincial Committee and Guizhou provincial governor said the following at the opening ceremony of the exhibition,"In the past 40 years, Guizhou has witnessed the development of China's reform and opening-up. In the future, Guizhou will ramp up its own efforts to develop the province even more".

Huo Sijian added, "I will take my family to this exhibition so they can see what has happened in Guizhou over the past 40 years. I hope my kids can learn from the exhibition—however society changes, they will have to adapt."

Li Hanyi contributed to this story