The Lunar New Year is the only time year China's army of migrant workers gets to go home. They squeeze into trains and buses for the Spring Festival break, and after the New Year festivities, the nightmare starts over as they travel back to the factories in which they work.
The Lunar New Year is the only time year China's army of migrant workers gets to go home. They squeeze into trains and buses for the Spring Festival break, and after the New Year festivities, the nightmare starts over as they travel back to the factories in which they work.
courtesy Zhan Youbing
Migrant workers wait along the side of a road in Dongguan, southern China, for a coach to take them back to their hometowns.
Migrant workers wait along the side of a road in Dongguan, southern China, for a coach to take them back to their hometowns.
courtesy Zhan Youbing
The annual travel crush is known as "chunyun."
The annual travel crush is known as "chunyun."
Courtesy Zhan Youbing
Zhong Jianxia started working at this toy manufacturing factory in Dongguan in April 2014. Prior to this job, she worked at an electronics factory. She was born in 1991 in Yunfu, Guangdong, and got a junior high school degree.
Zhong Jianxia started working at this toy manufacturing factory in Dongguan in April 2014. Prior to this job, she worked at an electronics factory. She was born in 1991 in Yunfu, Guangdong, and got a junior high school degree.
courtesy Zhan Youbing
Sophisticated electronics are manufactured in these dust-free rooms. Workers are only allowed to expose their eyes in these rooms and work there for eight to 16 hours a day.
Sophisticated electronics are manufactured in these dust-free rooms. Workers are only allowed to expose their eyes in these rooms and work there for eight to 16 hours a day.
courtesy Zhan Youbing
Workers take a nap on the assembly line. They can take a 10-minute break each day.
Workers take a nap on the assembly line. They can take a 10-minute break each day.
courtesy Zhan Youbing
Migrant workers at an electronics factory take off protective clothing following a fire evacuation drill.
Migrant workers at an electronics factory take off protective clothing following a fire evacuation drill.
courtesy Zhan Youbing
Work in the numerous factories of the Pearl River Delta ranges from unskilled to highly sophisticated. However, the parlous nature of factory work means that no-one's job is secure for too long.
Work in the numerous factories of the Pearl River Delta ranges from unskilled to highly sophisticated. However, the parlous nature of factory work means that no-one's job is secure for too long.
courtesy Zhan Youbing
Women working at a lingerie factory in Dongguan.
Women working at a lingerie factory in Dongguan.
courtesy Zhan Youbing
Migrant workers enjoy a dinner party in a rented room in Dongguan.
Migrant workers enjoy a dinner party in a rented room in Dongguan.
courtesy Zhan Youbing