1985 was a pivotal year for the policy. The city was moving away from a strictly planned economy. While many items still required ration coupons, street vendors (like those selling sugarcane) represented the growing "free market." The Visual Palette

: The sea of blue and grey Mao suits was starting to break. Younger people began wearing "Western-style" colorful down jackets or trench coats.

: The sound of the rhythmic "thwack" as vendors prepared the cane.