China’s transformation over the last four decades since its reform and opening up in the late 1970s is a highly unusual phenomenon. China’s gross domestic product grew from US$150 billion in 1978 to about US$17.8 trillion by 2023, making it the world’s second largest economy. Per capita GDP jumped from US$157 in 1973 to US$12,614 by 2023, surpassing countries like India and Thailand. In first-tier cities like Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen, the average per capita GDP ranges between US$26,000 and US$28,000, topping the amount considered as high-income by World Bank standards.