About 20 years ago, a diary account chronicling the struggles of a teenage girl from rural China was published at home and abroad and became an instant hit.
In the book "The Diary of Ma Yan: The Struggles and Hopes of a Chinese School Girl," Ma described scenes like how girls had to cross mountains to reach school every morning with an empty stomach. Their longing for the change of destiny through learning and hardworking was inspirational for many readers.
Twenty years have since passed and the conditions described in Ma's diary have undergone tremendous changes -- a whole new world has been forged.
Produced by Xinhua Global Service
