Pictures

Elderly, Women, & Children Left Behind in China’s Countryside

by on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 46 comments comments

From NetEase:

The pain of “emptiness” in China’s countryside

According to statistics, the total number of rural migrant workers amounts to 230 million. Restricted by household registration, residence and education, many migrant workers have to left their family behind in the rural areas. Hence in the countryside of China, there is a left-behind group consisting of women, children and old parents. A survey indicates that there are 87 million people left in the rural areas across the country, including 20 million children, 20 million old parents and 47 million women. [click to enlarge]

The people left behind in China's rural countryside: elderly parents, women, and children.

In Duiziliang Town, Dingbian County, Shanxi Province, Xue Pizhong (left), 67-years-old, with his wife Yang Guilan and grandson in their own home (photographed on August 23rd). Xue Pizhong’s family has over 10 members who have left the countryside to find work elsewhere.

The people left behind in China's rural countryside: elderly parents, women, and children.

In Ximawan Village, Jingbian County, Shanxi Province, 61-year-old Wang Guixian (left) and his wife Zhang Shumei in front of their house (photographed on August 24th). Wang Guixian has four children who have left home to find work elsewhere.

The people left behind in China's rural countryside: elderly parents, women, and children.

In Shiping Village, Xunyang County, Shanxi Province, Wu Huiqin and her 2-year-old son are on the clearing near their house (photographed on August 30th). Wu’s husband is out in the city for work.

The people left behind in China's rural countryside: elderly parents, women, and children.

In Dijiahe Village, Baishui County, Shanxi Province, 56-year-old Di Jinsheng and his wife Ju Yulan are in the courtyard in front of the cave dwelling (photographed on August 26th). Di has 6 daughters who have left home either for work in the city or for marriage.

The people left behind in China's rural countryside: elderly parents, women, and children.

In Bailiu Town, Xunyang County, Shanxi Province, Hu Ergui is in the corn field (photographed on August 30th). Hu’s husband and two children are out in the city for work.

The people left behind in China's rural countryside: elderly parents, women, and children.

In Xigu Town, Baishui County, Shanxi Province, 64-year-old Tian Donglin, and his wife sit beside the Luohe River near their home (photographed on August 27th). Tian’s three children have left home for work in the city.

The people left behind in China's rural countryside: elderly parents, women, and children.

In Lingao Town, Baishui County, Shanxi Province, 66-year-old Jiao Shuancheng sits beside the lake near his home (photographed on August 27th). Jiao Shuancheng has three children who have left the village for work in the city.

The people left behind in China's rural countryside: elderly parents, women, and children.

In Shizhuan Town, Ankang City, Shanxi Province, Chen Rongying sits in the field in front of her home (photographed on August 29th). Her husband and two children are out in the city for work.

The people left behind in China's rural countryside: elderly parents, women, and children.

In Liujiezhuang Village, Jingbian County, Shanxi Province, 68-year-old He Ailiang sits on the hilltop near his home (photographed on August 25th). He’s wife has been dead for years, and his three children are out for work in the city.

The people left behind in China's rural countryside: elderly parents, women, and children.

In Ximawan Village, Jingbian County, Shanxi Province, 67-year-old Tian Yunxiu (left) and his 65-year-old wife Liu Dezhen sit beside the buckwheat field (photographed on August 24th). There are 6 chilren in Tian’s family who have left the countryside for work in the city.

The people left behind in China's rural countryside: elderly parents, women, and children.

In Shuanglong Village, Ankang City, Shanxi Province, Cheng Xiaolin sits in the field with his two children (photographed on August 28th). Cheng’s wife has left the village for work in the city.

The people left behind in China's rural countryside: elderly parents, women, and children.

In Bailiu Town, Xunyang County, Shanxi Province, 87-year-old Liu Shuzhen sits beside the rice field in the village (photographed on August 30th). Liu’s husband has passed away, and her son is out in the city for work.

Comments from NetEase:

Today, September 5th, people still have to be left behind/stay behind; people are still limited/restricted by their household registration! Is this what a happy life is supposed to be???

谁是贼 [网易北京市网友]：

Remove “rural migrant workers” these three words, okay? [The title of] “#2 in the world” is wet, because on it is covered with their blood and tears…

0084LOVE越南新娘网 [网易广西南宁市网友]：

I was once one of these children who were left behind. Now it’s my son’s turn. Every year I go home he doesn’t even recognize me, and it hurts a lot…I hate it…

美文化 [网易河南省网友]：

Rural migrant workers… a characteristic of China [whore country]… can be fired/laid off at will…and not be considered unemployed… and can go wherever they wish…without enjoying any state welfare benefits… if you’re interested, click my name… [many of the characters in this comment were intentionally substituted]

你亲爹临死前说 [网易湖南省长沙市网友]：

Young adults would rather abandon their native villages to work away from home than to stay home and plant crops. Sigh~~~ and why is this?

172团团长 [网易河北省保定市网友]：

Caused by blind [government] policies.

楚门界 [网易广东省广州市天河区网友]：

What’s the reason/cause? Everyone already knows in their heart.

月君怡然 [网易江苏省连云港市网友]：

[They, the government] intentionally wants you all to be separated/scattered. You guys can’t be allowed to come together. Even this you can’t see?

  • Taargus

    Odd how none of them use sofas.

    • http://candosino.wordpress.com terroir

      Well, when you are a poors, you never come in first.

      That middle-class guilt of yours should be kicking in about now.

  • dim mak

    A necessary evil.

    China doesn’t want to end up like India where the rural population floods the urban cities until Mumbai is 80% slums. The hukou system might make Westerners bitch about human rights and whatnot, but it works in a country with this many people.

    • http://blog.sina.com.cn/u/1914680181 Elijah

      Not really, it’s intentionally restrictive and just a remnant of Mao’s insanity.

      It has no benefit to the country or to the individual. In fact the only benefit it brings is in creating a second class and third class citizenry which can be manipulated and easily controlled.

      It’s very much like 1984 in that respect. Proles on the bottom, Outer Party in the middle and Inner Party members at the top.

      And there’s very little chance for social mobility no matter how hard you work.

      Nope, this is about forcing people to sacrifice their families to slave away and pump out shit products to undersell other countries and maintain a trade imbalance.

      Gotta see the big picture here.

      • Rick in China

        While seemingly heartless, this should be summed up in the phrase:

        Without fuel for the fire, it burns out.

        It’s unfortunate that the rapid development of China’s modern cities requires so much fuel, but without this sort of system, there would never be this kind of development…which is ultimately the priority of many people in modern China.

        • http://blog.sina.com.cn/u/1914680181 Elijah

          But that’s precisely what this article features: The people who are left behind and/or used as cordwood to fuel the engine.

          It’s unfair and unjust especially in a supposedly civilized, socialized culture. (heavy sarcasm there…..)

          Who’s so high and mighty that they have the power to decide that some people will benefit while the rest must suffer?

          It’s like the Morlocks in HG Wells “The Time Machine” except that the Morlocks in china are only starting to go hunting…

    • whododat

      dim, you are right on.

      Rio in Brazil is like that not just India.

  • Brett Hunan

    It’s just what happens when you have an entire country running on migrant workers.

    It sucks that husbands and wives have to split up so they can both find jobs and survive. Why bother getting married?

    • http://candosino.wordpress.com terroir

      Of course: for the children.

  • Kyle

    I feel bad for these people. They do what they have to.

  • 平凡人

    With all the people going to the city, who will take care of the farmland?

    • monyxie

      Not all of them went to the city. Did you miss the title?

    • b. prichard

      Where do you think food in the cities comes from? Poor subsistence farmers?

      It comes from large industrially operated farms.

  • Peye

    These separations are the results of the modern production methods and world- wide trading . The creation of capital through low paid labour does not leave much /any room to consider the effects this has on human relations. Money is king , it does not shed any tears. Thanks for these nice pictures. All the best to the people who are affected by this situation.

  • eattot

    i feel sorry for people in this type of villages, really sad.
    in china, your birth place already decided your future. hope gov can put more money into countryside devolopement.
    on the other hand, farmers those live nearby cities are quite rich.

    • http://candosino.wordpress.com terroir

      I know I’m going to get yelled at by you for doing this, but here goes:

      I agree with you.

      • mr. weiner

        I think eattot has started to take medication again. She’s being quite agreeable and even taken off her mask

      • Tengu

        I told you, she’s a keeper. Just took a little while….think she does ‘shrooms?

        • mr. weiner

          I think she was doing her earlier posts on crystal meth. kind if spikey, tweaky and irritable. She’s mellowing now, must be on the ganja.

          • Just John

            Actually, she is just back to her respectable self.
            This is why I got into the row with her a few stories back, when she was flipping out all over the place. This is more of the eattot I have always known, not the hating, flaming biotch. This one I respect. The one a week ago, no respect for.

  • whododat

    Nobody told the farmers to leave for the cities, they are greedy for big money and brand new cars.

    Stop the greed and go home, take care of your family the old fashion way, work the land.

    • http://candosino.wordpress.com terroir

      Yes. Leave money for rich people.
      Also, leave books for book people.

      Poors: you are as valuable as dirt. Enjoy!

    • Rick in China

      RE: “they are greedy for big money and brand new cars.”

      Are you really that ignorant? You think these people, with their relatively desolate farmland countryside homes, are after cars and big money? Most of their relatives, *migrant workers*, earn enough to sleep in dens of tens and save just enough to send some back home so their elderly parents, spouses, and children have some money for food, clothing, and possibly education.

  • http://www.qq.com/1325279774 Kedafu

    Song of the Article

    Left Behind
    -Marashino

    wumaodang

  • Rick in China

    “Cheng’s wife has left the village for work in the city.”

    Poor guy probably doesn’t know his wife is a ‘massage’ girl.

    • Just John

      Third picture down.
      Wife staying at home.
      Wonder if she needs someone to help keep her company nights that her husband is away…

  • Jess

    Rural Shanxi has a beautiful landscape…so green and pretty!

  • MrT

    Well soon the big company’s will move out west and into the rural areas where the migrants workers come from.
    With the improved infrastructure, roads and rail networks this will happen.
    Its cheaper for company’s to set up in the west, cheaper available labour,cheaper rents, etc instead of it all being lost to Vietnam because of rising costs in East/South China. I would certainly start any new business out west now.
    Government incentives should speed this up, just need to educate the business men to take the initiative and stop being sheep in GZ.

  • John Wayne

    China’s countryside looks beautiful. So clean and pure unlike the life their kids are exposed to in the big city.

  • Chris T.

    I have an idea. Rent part of your house to western tourists and let them work on the land. They are willing to pay big bucks for that type of ‘traditional labour in scenic environment’ vacation.

    You might even find a nice rich laowai husband for your daughter(s) if you’re an old farmer. We don’t care bout your social status.

  • pepsi_cola

    People left behind acts as a cheap social security system. If the economy takes a nosedive, or some migrants are just unlucky. Those migrant workers can move back and at least feed themselves off the land.

  • nn

    I am tired of reading negative news, but it happens everyday. Now, the f**king western countries are using China to save themselves. Such a mess. China is pouring money and resource to others, leaving its citizen nothing

  • http://www.matthewsawtell.com Matthew A. Sawtell

    Reminds of me the photo stories out of Mexico about 10 years ago. Yet, it is a sign of the ever changing human landscape – what is a major city can be nothing more than a patch of dessert or jungle in a few short years.

  • Llanero

    The same thing has been happening in countries around the world for decades now. In fact, just recently it was announced that a majority of the world’s population now lives in urban areas for the first time in history.

  • Llanero

    The same thing has been happening in countries around the world for decades now. In fact, just recently it was announced that a majority of the world’s population now lives in urban areas for the first time in history.

  • Justin

    If I were an old Chinese person, I would rather live in the countryside than in the city. I just came back from Gubeikou Village outside of Beijing. It’s paradise out there. So peaceful and quiet. The city is especially inaccessible for old people, too. Lots of uneven walkways and there are lots of stairs to climb.

    It’s a shame to be away from your children though, but if they are any good, they will come back and visit you as well as call you regularly. Sadly, I’m not a good son and hence never call my mom.

    • Just John

      Sorry, I would still prefer the city.
      Broadband in these locations?
      Electricity?

      Besides, I hate quiet…
      And would probably die of boredom without my internet.

      • Justin

        Of course they have that stuff. Farmers have cellphones these days, smartphones even. It’s a brave new world. China’s wireless infrastructure is actually pretty impressive. Usually in remote parts of America you can’t get a signal for shit. But when I was up in the mountains recently I got full bars and the sound was as clear as a bell.

        You can get a 3G card and access the Internet from the top of a mountain if you wanted to. The hostel where I was staying had Internet with a VPN and a bidet among other things, but it was in the middle of an ancient village. You could buy a siheyuan out there for really cheap and remodel it then rent it out as a vacation getaway for foreigners.

        But to each his own. If you like honking horns and smoggy air, I suppose that’s your prerogative.

  • Capt. WED

    I’ve lived with families in similar locale and it was really kick ass experience. If I’m going to live this kind of lifestyle it’d have to a life next to the ocean, though. Getting up 3am in the morning going out to sea for a couple of hours. then just chill for the rest of day. Maybe I’m romanticizing this a little bit too much.

  • redgirl

    The empty chairs are so poignant. Each one a life, a story.

  • Capt. WED

    This is pretty rural even by CHina’s standards. I don’t think I can live here.

  • DRaY

    Whats so surprising about this? People go where the work is …….. Very common everywhere…..

  • Chicho

    The photos are great! One chair for each person, you can feel the emptiness

    • Wes

      It is pretty sad and empty.

      In Shizhuan Town, Ankang City, Shanxi Province, Chen Rongying sits in the field in front of her home (photographed on August 29th). Her husband and two children are out in the city for work.

      ^However, I noticed that in this caption it states the women’s husband and two children left for the city, though she has four chairs empty… and not just three. Who is the other chair for?

      God have mercy on their souls…

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  • Sean

    They have clean air and live in some of the most beautiful landscapes of China, at least!

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