Life for most Chinese is very hard. The great economic boom has yet to filter to the masses.
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Countryside – Fuzhou, Jiangxi, Province
These three followed me and my host friend everywhere we went in their village.
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Countryside – Fuzhou, Jiangxi Province
Some of the children who came out to see the Black stranger in their village.
These children are called the “left-behind children” because their parents have left the village to hopefully find work in the cities. Their parents go to Beijing, Shanghai, Guanzhou, etc. hoping to find jobs to give their families a better life. They are called migrant workers. These children are left in the villages in the care of grand-parents or other relatives. These children, as they get older will go to a school in the nearest town, in a boarding situation, and possibly come home to their village on weekends. They cannot attend schools in the cities. They will see their parents during the major holiday, Spring Festival. This is occurring throughout China.
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Countryside in Fuzhou, Jiangxi Province
So, as the economic prosperity begins to trickle down to the farmers, the first thing they may do is to build a better house in the village. However, they do not live in the houses because they have gone to the cities to find work that will pay better than framing. They are called migrant workers. So…unless they have grandparents or other family members to live in the homes they remain vacant all year, until the great migration of people occur during the annual Spring Festival (Chinese New Year). That’s when virtually everyone in China returns to their village to celebrate the new year (see my earlier posts).
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Countryside in Fuzhou, Jiangxi Province
Street intersection in Bei Xia village where the rice is grown. The grandparents of my friend come from this village.
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Keeping History Intact
While China rises economically it maintains and cherishes its rich traditions. The ancient of old is maintained in the shadow of the new.
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South Gate of City Wall – Xi’an, China
Another view of the South Gate of the City Wall at night.
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City Wall of Xi’an – South Gate
The South Gate of the City Wall in Xi’an at night.
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The City Wall of Xi’an
A view of the Bell Tower from the City Wall. More on the Bell Tower in later posts.
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The City Wall of Xi’an
One of the structures on the walk-way of the wall.
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African Routes 