For 18-year-old Muhammad Shahbaz, the dream began in 2006. Inspired by the evocative travelogues of Ibn-e-Insha, specifically Chalty Ho To Cheen Ko Chaliye, the young Pakistani student envisioned a land defined by the mysticism of kung fu masters and the simple charm of bicycles. When his family suggested he pursue his medical studies in the Chinese mainland, it felt like the start of a grand adventure.
Upon arriving in Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province, Shahbaz encountered a reality that was already shifting. While the traditional elements he had read about existed, he found a society on the cusp of an immense transformation, characterized by the emergence of electric buses, metered taxis, and a growing urban energy.
Reflecting on the landscape of 2006, Dr. Shahbaz recalls a starkly different era. At that time, Jinan's skyline was modest, with the tallest building reaching only 20 stories. Transportation was a slower affair; the fastest trains operated at roughly 150 kilometers per hour—a speed comparable to the railways in Pakistan. A trip from Jinan to Mount Taishan took nearly an hour, and a night coach to Shanghai was a grueling 10-hour journey. In an age before the smartphone revolution, he relied on IP cards to maintain a connection with his family back home.
"There were fewer skyscrapers, less advanced public transport systems, and fewer international facilities," Dr. Shahbaz notes. "Many areas looked more traditional and less technologically connected."
Over the next two decades, Dr. Shahbaz had a front-row seat to one of the most rapid national developments in history. By 2026, the landscape has been completely redefined. The modest skyline of his youth has been replaced by towering architectural marvels, and the slow trains have evolved into a world-leading high-speed rail network.
Today, the doctor marvels at the seamless integration of 5G networks and the ubiquity of digital payments that define daily life in the Chinese mainland. For Dr. Shahbaz, the journey has been more than just an academic pursuit; it has been a witness to an extraordinary evolution. "The speed and scale of China's progress have amazed me," he concludes, embodying the bridge of friendship and professional growth between Pakistan and the Chinese mainland.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
