Source: CCTV.com

12-11-2008 09:26

Special Report:   30 Years of Changes

Dairy products are part of every day life in China today. That was not so 30 years ago, when some milk products were hard to get. Zhang Ying is one of the longest serving employees of the Beijing-based dairy company, the Sanyuan Group. She has seen the changes take place over the years since China's reform and opening up in 1978.

Meiyuan dairy snack shop

29 years ago, Zhang Ying went to work for the Sanyuan Group. She was 24. Zhang started out at the Meiyuan dairy snack shop. Her duty was to keep the traditional imperial dairy functioning. At one time in China, dairy snacks were the exclusive privilege of the Imperial household.

Zhang Ying, worker of Sanyuan Group, said, "30 years ago, you couldn't buy without special coupons. Only the elderly and children could get milk supplies. Even some of my friends asked me to help them get milk. But supplies were fixed and distribution was strictly regulated. There wasn't enough milk for people to drink let alone for milk products. We opened the shop 10 o'clock in the morning. But there wasn't much to sell."

Milk and other dairy products

Since the late 1980s, milk and other dairy products have been listed as a basic food source in Beijing. Since that time, it's been much easier to buy dairy snacks.

Zhang Ying said, "You didn't need coupons here in Meiyuan. For instance, one bowl of cheese was priced at a half yuan. But salaries at that time were about 30 yuan. So there were only a few people who had had enough money to buy dairy snacks. Some parents bought small amounts - only for their kids to enjoy."