petermaize

Poor and Beautiful

It is an irony that many of the poorest people in China live

in the most beautiful parts of the country. Rural poverty in China

often means mountains. Mountains mean difficult land for growing crops,

and roads that are either impassable or nonexistent.

I’ve had the opportunity to visit many of these places in Guizhou, Guangxi

and Sichuan provinces, among others. The scenery is astonishing. It’s

easy, as a visitor, to stand and admire the tranquil beauty and forget for

a moment that the people who live there toil for less than $2 a day, walk

for hours to reach a town and have few options for progress–except to leave.

There are roughly 30 million migrant workers in China today. Many are from

the poor villages in the mountains, where economic progress hasn’t–or can’t–

reach.

The people who live in the mountains are simple, friendly, open. Simple does not

mean stupid. Although it’s difficult to get a good education in rural China, the people

posssess are quick to learn. Although they are guided by tradition, they are open

to ideas.

Should they leave the villages in order to find a batter life and more opportunity?

What would you do?