Sun Yuchen, Tan Yifan

    cicitan2011@gmail.com

    IT is perhaps difficult for most people in Shenzhen to imagine the life of marginalized people — who most likely have many similar hopes and aspirations as professionals commuting to their offices in their tailored suits — and many of those on the edge of society find that the world is no longer open to them. Sun Zhongchao is one of the people who seem to be invisible to everyone rushing around during their daily routine, and his dreams were crushed when he settled in Shenzhen three years ago, leaving his remote village in Nanyang City, Henan Province.

    After nearly 60 years in his isolated village, Sun realized when he developed a disability in one of his legs that he would spend the rest of his life in poverty with a monthly income of 1,100 yuan (US$177.6) from the local government. He decided to set off on his first long journey, heading south to Shenzhen, and he hoped to find a job in the city that beckoned with dreams of a brighter future.

    Everything seemed to be off to a good start for Sun, who is single and does not have children, as he got a job as a cleaner in a downtown supermarket, but he was soon fired due to communication problems and his bad temper. He did not have any good references to get another job, and he also had no social welfare, so Sun had to live on the street at the edge of Civic Center in Futian District and he began an “invisible” life.

    Fortunately, he does manage to continue one of his hobbies — reading newspapers. Though he often goes hungry, Sun saves pennies from selling garbage so as to be able to afford newspapers such as Cankaoxiaoxi — which has the largest circulation in China and consists of translations of news stories from around the world — and Southern Metropolis Daily. And Sun said that reading the news is his biggest source of enjoyment. This interest in staying connected to the rest of the world may be one reason why he is able to stay optimistic — as he still hopes that he can find a job and earn a better income in this city.

    1. Sun Zhongchao eats the meal that he found in a trash bin.

    2. Sun holds up his copy of the Southern Metropolis Daily of Tuesday issue.

    3. Sun sits in front of his makeshift home, with skyscrapers looming behind him, in the center of Shenzhen.

    4. Sitting close to his makeshift home, Sun talks about his life and hopes.

    5. A stool made by Sun.

    6. The tiny makeshift home contains almost all of his possessions.

    7. Sun carefully folds the newspaper after reading it.

    8. Sun walks by some of the garbage he has collected in order to make a living.