1960s – 1970s
From 1950 until the late 1970s, China’s economic development was under a strict central planning system where industrialization took priority over agricultural development. During this time, China did not have a surplus of capital to invest in the electrical technology that would promote rural electrification. The “rural” areas covered by the power supply from the national grids were primarily suburbs and other areas that were directly adjacent to the outskirts of large urbanities.
During the 1950s, rural electrification was managed by provincial and local governments because China lacked a national institution to invest in the electrification systems for rural areas. It wasn’t until the 1960s that the central government legislated that national and provincial powers should support rural electricity consumption for irrigation in grain production. By the end of the 1970s, China had developed a comprehensive network to electrify rural areas.
This poster demonstrates safety regulations for electricity and electrical technology as well as first-aid measures in the event of accidents. This message speaks to the type of industrialization changes that were made in China’s rural areas, as well as to people’s experience with electrical technologies prior to China’s economic development.
