Relying on labor and selling crops, Ye Liping and Liu Xiuzhen who live in Nanping village in Anhui province, make just over 20,000 yuan ($3,216) a year. In 1998, the villagers and village council who were clueless about tourism, signed a 30-year contract with a company, who then took over the tourism management of the entire village. The company only pays each villager a sum of only 100 yuan ($16) a year.
Relying on labor and selling crops, Ye Liping and Liu Xiuzhen who live in Nanping village in Anhui province, make just over 20,000 yuan ($3,216) a year. In 1998, the villagers and village council who were clueless about tourism, signed a 30-year contract with a company, who then took over the tourism management of the entire village. The company only pays each villager a sum of only 100 yuan ($16) a year.
Courtesy Ma Hongjie
Zhang Zhuan is a soldier who lives on Chigua reef, Nansha Islands, Sansha city in Hainan province. Chigua reef is one of the seven island reefs in the working control of the People's Republic of China. Zhang, has been of the soldiers guarding the reef for a total of five years over 16 years of navy service. Each time he is posted for three months.
Zhang Zhuan is a soldier who lives on Chigua reef, Nansha Islands, Sansha city in Hainan province. Chigua reef is one of the seven island reefs in the working control of the People's Republic of China. Zhang, has been of the soldiers guarding the reef for a total of five years over 16 years of navy service. Each time he is posted for three months.
Courtesy Ma Hongjie
Zhang Jian and his wife live in a sinkhole, in Xiaozhai Village, Fengjie County in Chongqing. The Fengjie Sinkhole is one of the largest sinkholes in the world. In 1991, Zhan Jian was given the job of monitoring the water level of the river, so he moved to his new home inside the sinkhole.<br />
Zhang Jian and his wife live in a sinkhole, in Xiaozhai Village, Fengjie County in Chongqing. The Fengjie Sinkhole is one of the largest sinkholes in the world. In 1991, Zhan Jian was given the job of monitoring the water level of the river, so he moved to his new home inside the sinkhole.
Courtesy Ma Hongjie
Shepherd Hade'er, who owns 350 sheep, lives in Unity village, Aksai Kazakh Autonomous county in Gansu province. During the summer he and his family moves constantly around the plains, and pass the winters in the county center. From raising sheep alone they make 100,000 yuan ($16,083) per year.
Shepherd Hade'er, who owns 350 sheep, lives in Unity village, Aksai Kazakh Autonomous county in Gansu province. During the summer he and his family moves constantly around the plains, and pass the winters in the county center. From raising sheep alone they make 100,000 yuan ($16,083) per year.
Courtesy Ma Hongjie
This manor in Shuiyuantou Village, Guilin City in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is comparable in size and scale to a village in its own right. Its history began in the Ming Dynasty, when a government official of the Qin family from Shandong traveled over a long distance to this place, where he was so impressed by the fengshui that he decided to settle down here and start a family. The family continued to grow over the generations, expanding their home into a large group of houses, now known as the "Qin family manor."
This manor in Shuiyuantou Village, Guilin City in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is comparable in size and scale to a village in its own right. Its history began in the Ming Dynasty, when a government official of the Qin family from Shandong traveled over a long distance to this place, where he was so impressed by the fengshui that he decided to settle down here and start a family. The family continued to grow over the generations, expanding their home into a large group of houses, now known as the "Qin family manor."
Courtesy Ma Hongjie
Luo Yongchuan and his family live in the most drought-stricken, water-deprived region of China in Jiudao village, Zhongwei city of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The family earns just over 10,000 yuan ($1,608) a year. During the slump in the farming season, the men will all travel to the nearby towns and cities to look for work.
Luo Yongchuan and his family live in the most drought-stricken, water-deprived region of China in Jiudao village, Zhongwei city of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The family earns just over 10,000 yuan ($1,608) a year. During the slump in the farming season, the men will all travel to the nearby towns and cities to look for work.
Courtesy Ma Hongjie
In 1943, seven-year-old Cao Jinhe traveled with his mother and brother past the Great Wall, to Heilongjiang Province where he lives no in Huabin village. His mother remarried there, and their family has been there since. Cao and his wife now make about 20,000 yuan ($3,216) per year.
In 1943, seven-year-old Cao Jinhe traveled with his mother and brother past the Great Wall, to Heilongjiang Province where he lives no in Huabin village. His mother remarried there, and their family has been there since. Cao and his wife now make about 20,000 yuan ($3,216) per year.
Courtesy Ma Hongjie
This family lives in a floating home next to a small river running through the city of Shaoxing in Zhejiang province. Xu Mugen is a manager at a construction development company, and his wife, Fan Guofang is a ticket clerk at the Shaoxing East Lake Scenic Site. They have one son, and make about 400,000 yuan ($64,335) a year.
This family lives in a floating home next to a small river running through the city of Shaoxing in Zhejiang province. Xu Mugen is a manager at a construction development company, and his wife, Fan Guofang is a ticket clerk at the Shaoxing East Lake Scenic Site. They have one son, and make about 400,000 yuan ($64,335) a year.
Courtesy Ma Hongjie
Yang Lingui and his son live in Baowan village, Nanyang city in Henan Province. Every year, during the agricultural off-season, them along with many other villages, take their trained monkeys across China, performing on the streets for money. Yang's family has an annual income of about 30,000 to 40,000 yuan ($6,433).
Yang Lingui and his son live in Baowan village, Nanyang city in Henan Province. Every year, during the agricultural off-season, them along with many other villages, take their trained monkeys across China, performing on the streets for money. Yang's family has an annual income of about 30,000 to 40,000 yuan ($6,433).
courtesy Ma Hongjie
Jia Changyue lives on a "floating inn" with his wife, father and son on the banks of the Panjiakou reservoir in Hebei province. In 1993, they expanded their house to provide room and board to visiting tourists and photographers. Along with the fish they have in the reservoir which they sell and serve in their restaurant, they can make more than 200,000 yuan ($32,167) per year.
Jia Changyue lives on a "floating inn" with his wife, father and son on the banks of the Panjiakou reservoir in Hebei province. In 1993, they expanded their house to provide room and board to visiting tourists and photographers. Along with the fish they have in the reservoir which they sell and serve in their restaurant, they can make more than 200,000 yuan ($32,167) per year.
Courtesy Ma Hongjie
Feng Zhongcheng's family lives in a valley formed by mountain ridges, plains and loess hills in Xiaozhanghe village, Yan'an city in Shaanxi province. The family of five shares a total of five cave houses. Feng works in town, and he and his wife earn about 20,000 yuan ($3,216) per year.
Feng Zhongcheng's family lives in a valley formed by mountain ridges, plains and loess hills in Xiaozhanghe village, Yan'an city in Shaanxi province. The family of five shares a total of five cave houses. Feng works in town, and he and his wife earn about 20,000 yuan ($3,216) per year.
Courtesy Ma Hongjie
Zhang Youcai's family lives in Nanshishan village, Henan province, where the art of Tang tricolor pottery originated. They are the only family able to make ceramic horses up to 1.7 meters in height. In a year, they can produce more than 400 of these horses, for a yearly income of about 100,000 yuan ($16,083).
Zhang Youcai's family lives in Nanshishan village, Henan province, where the art of Tang tricolor pottery originated. They are the only family able to make ceramic horses up to 1.7 meters in height. In a year, they can produce more than 400 of these horses, for a yearly income of about 100,000 yuan ($16,083).
Courtesy Ma Hongjie
Gesang Jibu and his wife, who lives in Motuo County, Tibet Autonomous Region, have never left Motuo their entire lives. His greatest wishes are to visit Beijing, the sprawling metropolis and capital of their nation, which he's only seen on television, and to visit Jokhang Temple in Lhasa.
Gesang Jibu and his wife, who lives in Motuo County, Tibet Autonomous Region, have never left Motuo their entire lives. His greatest wishes are to visit Beijing, the sprawling metropolis and capital of their nation, which he's only seen on television, and to visit Jokhang Temple in Lhasa.
Courtesy Ma Hongjie
Hongqing and Cheng Xiaohui rents an old tea house next to the canal running through the town of Xushe, Yixing city, in Jiangsu province. Although this isn't their home, they spend most of their time here and often sleep here as well, using some basic furniture. The tea house now profits about 30,000 yuan ($4,825) per year.
Hongqing and Cheng Xiaohui rents an old tea house next to the canal running through the town of Xushe, Yixing city, in Jiangsu province. Although this isn't their home, they spend most of their time here and often sleep here as well, using some basic furniture. The tea house now profits about 30,000 yuan ($4,825) per year.
Courtesy Ma Hongji
Meng Zuogang's ancestors settled here in Nanchangtan village, Zhongwei city in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in 1949. His family owns just over an acre of land, and the only greenhouse in the village. They also have 200 sheep, and 100 date trees. These, plus the tips given by those they take across the river by boat, add up to a total annual income of about 40,000 yuan ($6,433).
Meng Zuogang's ancestors settled here in Nanchangtan village, Zhongwei city in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in 1949. His family owns just over an acre of land, and the only greenhouse in the village. They also have 200 sheep, and 100 date trees. These, plus the tips given by those they take across the river by boat, add up to a total annual income of about 40,000 yuan ($6,433).
Courtesy Ma Hongjie