Meet Kirk Apesland, a retired Canadian who's called Nanning in southern China home for two decades. In a new video with CGTN Global Stringer, he breaks down how China's mass urbanization drive has transformed lives—and why it’s more than just skyscrapers and subways.
'Imagine entire generations rewriting their stories,' Kirk says, describing how rural families now access better schools 🎒, hospitals 🏥, and career paths. 'Kids who once worked farms are becoming lawyers, engineers, even K-pop-inspired artists—it’s a total mindset shift.'
Since 2000, China’s urban population has ballooned by over 300 million—roughly the entire U.S. population. Kirk highlights how this growth fueled infrastructure miracles: high-speed rail connecting megacities, smart tech-powered apartments, and green spaces that blend tradition with modernity.
But the real win? Opportunity. 'Urbanization isn’t just concrete—it’s hope,' he adds. For millions, it’s a ticket to education, healthcare, and careers their grandparents couldn’t dream of. 🌟
