ISLAMABAD (Urdu Times) Beyond Skyscrapers: Measuring China’s Modernization through its People

Written By Ms. Ishrat Bano, a Participant of ICSF-SBBWU Fellowship Programme 2026-2027

ISLAMABAD (Urdu Times) When we gaze upon a modern city we see skyscrapers touching the sky, construction sites with busy cranes and extensive highways connecting far-away places. Such images illustrate the country’s emerging development. China has confidently told that tale. Yet, these stunning city views are silent about the things that matter most: the child who just learned to read, the farmer whose products finally reach a market and the family that relocates to a city and carves out a niche and new prospects. “A nation’s greatest strength lies in its people”. This article takes that truth to heart, and asks how china’s modernization looks if we measure it not by what the country has built, but also by what its people have become.

Urbanization offers one way to explore this question. The core of modernization with Chinese characteristics is modernization for the people. China’s National Bureau of statistics report that the country’s urbanization rate increased from 63.89% in 2020 to 67.89% in 2025. This change affects where individuals look for public services, employment and education in addition to growing cities. Effective planning, improved public services and easier transitions for migrants from rural regions are all necessary for successful urban development, not only building. In the end, these migrants’ prospects are largely dependent on their access to jobs, healthcare and education.

Reducing poverty in rural areas is another crucial aspect of this story. According to government statistics, the number of people living in poverty in rural China decreased from around 250 million in 1978 to 29 million in 2001. It is impossible to attribute this change to a single policy. According to studies, this achievement is fueled by a combination of roads, education, power, agricultural research and numerous economic prospects. Urbanization is significant when it leads to better opportunities rather than just moving people.

One of the most visible pillars of China’s transition is its infrastructure. Transportation networks connect cities. Digital infrastructure promotes economic activity, innovation and communication. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (2026), as of the end of 2025, urban rail networks operated in more than 54 cities in China, with a total length of over 11,710 kilometers. These accomplishments show how much money it invested. But the true worth of infrastructure is determined by the opportunities such linkages generate, not just by kilometers. Access to marketplaces, employment opportunities, educational institutions and medical facilities can be facilitated by roads, railroads and digital networks.

China’s modernization also extends into digital systems that support innovation and economic transformation Li, Xie, and Wei (2024) discovered that through increased productivity and industrial upgrading, smart-city programs enhanced urban innovation. However, modernization should be evaluated based on how successfully it enhances people’s opportunities, well-being and access to services in addition to technology advancements.

However, connections by themselves cannot ensure advancement. In order to profit from them, people must also possess the necessary skills and expertise. Education is important to China’s modernization because it helps people learn new skills, adapt to changes in the economy and take part in the country’s development. Education is a strategic priority for national development, according to China’s report to the Communist Party’s 16th National Congress. Access to higher education has increased significantly during the last few decades. The enrollment ratio in higher education increased from 0.26 percent in 1949 to 54.4 percent in 2020, according to data reported by Hu and Yuan. According to National Statistics, it hit 60.2% in 2023. Zhenguo Yuan’s analysis describes China’s educational strategy as a “dual priority”, developing education while connecting it with wider economic and social needs.Quality teaching, vocational training and learning opportunities are as important as school enrolment and statistics. The knowledge, skills and creativity of people are what shape a modern country, not just concrete and steel.

The ultimate goal of urbanization, infrastructure and education is to raise living standards. The United Nations Development Program created the Human Development Index (HDI), which gages advancement in terms of income, education and health. According to a United Nations Development Program and Tsinghua University report on China’s human development, the country’s Human Development Index in 2023 was 0.797, which is close to the extremely high human development threshold. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, life expectancy was 79.25 years in 2025. These figures are important because they give us a clearer picture of people’s everyday lives.

China’s experience suggests that modernization is strongest when physical investment and human development move forward together. Roads and digital networks connect people to opportunities, education helps them to use those opportunities and health and living standards help show whether progress is reaching people. This is a vital lesson for developing countries like Pakistan. For a people-centered approach, social inclusion, educational potential, economic opportunity and public services are equally important. Countries have different economic and social conditions so what works in China may not work in the same way elsewhere. Other countries can learn from China’s experience. However, they should adjust these approaches to their own circumstances.

It is certain that skyscrapers will continue to rise but the real sign of a modern nation is the amount of people able to read, learn, invent and prosper. Keeping up this progress, requires three things: First, Keep investing into people. Second, the infrastructure should be suited to the need of the local area. Third, measure success in number of people given new opportunities.