PRESS RELEASE: China’s Children 1980: A Rare Photographic Glimpse into a Transforming Nation

China’s Children 1980 is a stunning new hardcover coffee table book capturing a pivotal moment in China’s history through the lens of photographer Mike Emery. Featuring some of the earliest colour photographs of the era, this collection offers a rare and intimate glimpse into everyday life in Beijing and Shanghai before the country’s rapid modernisation. Through these striking images, Emery preserves the faces, streets, and spirit of a generation growing up amid profound economic, political, and cultural change.

In February 1980, Emery arrived in China as the cruise photographer aboard one of the first American passenger ships to dock at the Port of Tientsin (Tianjin). The voyage, which carried American tourists on a 14-day journey through Japan, China, and Hong Kong, provided a rare opportunity to document a country just beginning to open its doors to the West.

Armed with a Nikon FE camera, a Braun flash, and rolls of Fuji 400 film, Emery operated a full photographic laboratory onboard the ship, capturing candid street scenes and iconic locations across Beijing, Shanghai, and beyond. His presence—marked by his bright clothing, fair hair, and enthusiastic approach—drew curiosity from local residents, often gathering crowds eager to interact, practise English, or simply observe the foreign photographer at work.

These striking images, many among the earliest colour photographs of the era, have now been curated into China’s Children 1980, a beautiful hardcover book that preserves a pivotal chapter in China’s history. While not solely focused on children, the collection captures a generation growing up amid sweeping economic, political, and cultural shifts. The book offers a rare glimpse into daily life in Beijing and Shanghai, portraying a world that has since evolved beyond recognition.

A Mission to Reconnect and Educate
Beyond preserving history, the project aims to reunite with individuals featured in Emery’s photographs, learning about their lives over the past 40 years. These images stand as a testament to China before its rapid modernisation, providing a social and cultural record of an era now largely undocumented in colour.

Additionally, efforts are underway to place copies of China’s Children 1980 in schools across China, offering young students a window into their parents’ and grandparents’ experiences. This initiative seeks to foster intergenerational connections and deepen appreciation for China’s rich and complex history.

By supporting this mission, individuals contribute to preserving an extraordinary visual legacy and ensuring that these stories continue to be shared for years to come. Anyone with a passion for China’s culture, history, and photography will find China’s Children 1980 to be a compelling and timeless collection of memories.

For more information, media enquiries, or to help locate individuals from the photographs, please contact Olivia Rugless P: +61 421 799 851 or E: [email protected]