Tides of Yuehai

The two decades from 1980 to 2000 saw Guangdong swept up in the surging tide of reform and opening up. From the earliest days of the special economic zones to the rise of the Pearl River Delta, countless people headed south, drawn by the hope of “making a fortune in Guangdong.” They chased opportunities on the crest of a changing era, while also weathering its ups and downs amid the cracks left by a shifting social order. This thriving land experienced the exuberance of an economic boom, but also the growing pains of public order breaking down... Following the life of an ordinary young man, Chen Zhiqiang, this book focuses on the everyday lives and sweeping changes in Guangdong during those two decades. It depicts ordinary people caught between opportunity and temptation, survival and principle, loyalty and the law. The story does not shy away from the complexity of the times or the many facets of human nature, nor does it romanticize crime or violence. Through the twists and turns of one man’s life, it bears witness to the gradual improvement of the rule of law and the restoration of order, reflecting the era’s defining belief that evil cannot triumph over good, and that the righteous path is forged through hardship. All events are fictional, created to record the times and reflect on human nature!