3 year old son waiting for his father back home

[Photo: Baidu.com]

Going home is the overriding theme of Spring Festival. There are more than 170 million migrant workers in China. Their homes are either situated in small towns or in the rural countryside. To support their entire families, migrant workers need to work in big cities, thus leaving their children and parents behind in the countryside. 

[Photo: Baidu.com]

The world is observing the rise of China; whether that be China's roads, bridges, railways, skyscrapers or products labeled Made In China. Though the world is awestruck by China's rapid development, few pay attention to the real creators of these wonders. They are the migrant workers; major contributors to China's fast-growing economy. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

33 year old Shi Xin is one such worker. His home is located in Huayuan county of Hunan province, central China. He works in Dongguan, Guangdong Province of Southern China. Dongguan is known as the World's Factory. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

Shi Xin is on his way back home. He has to take a train first, followed by a long distance shuttle bus and then a local bus, which will finally take him closer to his doorstep. Whilst walking on a country road, after turning a corner, he finds his 3 year-old son already standing in the middle of the lane waiting for him to return. Shi's wife divorced him three years ago, and the entire family's wellbeing now rests firmly on his shoulders. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

His job involves painting toys. In 2003, then 19 years-old, Shi Xin went to Dongguan to work in a digital factory. At that time, his monthly income was only 500 yuan, or 83 dollars. Ten years later, and his highest monthly salary was still lower than 3000 yuan, or 500 dollars. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

In 2016, Shi Xin received a free training course in spray painting, provided by the local government. After acquiring professional skills, Shi found a job as a spray painter in Fanyu, Guangzhou, and his monthly salary jumped to 5000 yuan, or 830 dollars. One day, Shi Xin took his son to visit the county nearby his countryside home. Whilst there, the pair saw a small toy painted by Shi. 

Shi Xin has to use oil paints every day. Even though he wears a mask, Shi still inhales the pungent fumes. He is aware that it could harm his health, but he insists on working so long as his health allows him to. Shi can only take two days off every month. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

As Shi explains, 'I dare not take a rest even when I feel really tired. I don't really want to go to work when I get up in the morning, but when I think about my son who needs my support, suddenly it's as if I am rebooted and I get up and go to work right away.' Despite wearing gloves to carry out his work, Shi Xin's hands are still stained with the colors that he uses to spray the toys. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

During the hectic period of time before Spring Festival, the local government of Guangdong Province provides a special shuttle train for migrant workers and offers them free tickets. Shi Xin was able to get one of these free tickets. On Jan. 18th, 2017, Shi Xin boarded a train which would take him back home. He arrived at Guangzhou train station four hours before the train was due to set off. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

Shi Xin is waiting in line to get into Guangzhou Train Station. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

Shi Xin enters the train station in Guangzhou. Many of the passengers are migrant workers who flock back home before Spring Festival. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

On the railway platform, Shi Xin is in the line to board the train. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

On the train, Shi Xin discovers that the two people sitting in front of him are also from his hometown, Huayuan County. They talk with each other happily in their local dialect. This is Shi Xin's first time to have his own bed on the train. In previous years, it was hard to compete for such a train ticket, so he would bring his own stool and sit in the passageway of the train. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

The dinner served on board costs 15 Yuan, consisting of rice, meat and fried eggs. But Shi Xin misses the taste of home-cooked food. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

Midnight of Jan. 19th, Shi Xin's train arrives in Hunan, and he exits the Ji Shou Train Station. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

After the train journey, Shi Xin has to take a long-distance shuttle bus to reach Malichang Town. Shi Xin sits patiently on the shuttle bus, imagining the moment when he sees his family. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

The wet cold air in the village makes Shi Xin shiver. Walking along the road in the town, Shi Xin has to hide his hands into the sleeves in order to keep warm. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

Still not home, Shi Xin needs to take a bus from the town to his village. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

In the misty rain, Shi Xin walks faster along the road to his home. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

After turning a corner, Shi Xin finds his 3 year-old son waiting for him under a tree. The little boy hasn't seen his father for a whole year.

[Photo: news.china.com]

Shi Xin hugs his son and warms himself up in the house. Displayed on the wall is Shi Xin's son's first ever kindergarten award. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

Shi Xin's father supports the family by feeding yellow eels. Shi Xin washes the eels while his son calls him from the door. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

Shi Xin's father teaches him how to clean the eels, whilst Shi Xin's son watches.

[Photo: news.china.com]

Cured bacon provides a taste of home; something that Shi Xin misses very much whilst working in the big city. 

[Photo: news.china.com]

Shi Xin is having dinner with his family.

[Photo: news.china.com]

Shi Xin takes a picture in front of the family house with the rest of his family. Shi Xin says working in large cities is not an ideal long term plan. His dream is to make enough money over the next few years, at which point he will return home to making a living by feeding and selling eels. In this way, Shi believes he can take care of his parents and his son; a common dream for a Chinese migrant worker.