Exhibition on China's progress impresses visitors

An ongoing exhibition on China's progress excels with a panoramic view of the country's development over the past decade, visitors said on Wednesday.

"I knew our country had developed fast, but I didn't know about it in such detail," said Ye Gale, a 43 year old from the Hualong Hui Autonomous County in northwest China's Qinghai Province, as he browsed the exhibition, which opened on Friday in the Beijing Exhibition Center.

Entitled "Scientific Development and Splendid Achievements," it showcases China's progress in political, economic, cultural and ecological spheres over the past decade through 2,110 photographs, 204 charts, as well as 765 objects, video clips and electronic photo albums.

"I have seen high-speed trains and Chinese spacecraft on TV, but I never had a chance to see them with my own eyes, even models of them," Ye said, adding that he was also very interested in displays on religious policy as he is an ethnic minority member.

Ye Chengjun, Ye Gale's town fellow, said that people from Hualong Hui had experienced the national progress displayed in the museum first hand. "Actually, we were assisted by the local government when opening our Beijing business, which sells Lanzhou stretched noodles, a famous local food," said the 32 year old.

Xu Jingli, a 20-year-old sophomore of Beijing's Minzu University, said the exhibition "enriched my knowledge of the country."

Offering free entry, Scientific Development and Splendid Achievements, has received about 10,000 visitors per day on average, according to a staff member of the exhibition center who preferred to remain anonymous.

Over 50 correspondents from 23 media groups home and abroad added to the visitor numbers when they attended on Wednesday under the organization of the Information Office of the State Council, or China's cabinet.

Scheduled to close on Nov. 26, the month-long attraction is sponsored by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the National Development and Reform Commission, the People's Liberation Army General Political Department and the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee.