The Last Watch

Photo Essay / 2024 — Ongoing

Rural China is experiencing an unprecedented wave of ageing, with a massive exodus of young and middle-aged workers, leaving many villages facing a hollowing-out problem. The elderly people left behind face many challenges in life, and the social structure and cultural heritage of traditional villages have also been severely affected. 

Gao Ban Ling Jiao, a hamlet in Zhuji, City in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, is a microcosm of this wave. The villagers are all descendants of the Yu, so they are all related to each other for miles. Most of the young generations have left the village, leaving the elders to guard the land of their ancestors. They rely on couples to help each other or stand-alone, struggling to make ends meet in an ageing village. 

In the face of a growing ageing crisis, the Majian Town government is attempting to revitalize the village by developing tourism, including building resorts and opening agritourism businesses to attract outside visitors and create jobs. However, whether these initiatives can truly improve the lives of the elderly, especially those unable to participate in the tourism industry due to physical limitations or lack of skills, remains uncertain. 

Aerial view of parts of Gao Ban Ling Jiao.
Aerial view of parts of Gao Ban Ling Jiao.
Households scattered all over the place in the oldest house in Gao Ban Ling Jiao, in Zhuji China, which has more than 100 years of history. Those residents in this house have either passed away or left for the city. This family had a history of catering for village banquets, so they had accumulated a large collection of spoons and bowls.
Households scattered all over the place in the oldest house in Gao Ban Ling Jiao, in Zhuji China, which has more than 100 years of history. Those residents in this house have either passed away or left for the city. This family had a history of catering for village banquets, so they had accumulated a large collection of spoons and bowls.
Yu Xueshun, 71, lives at his house with his wife in the village. The house built more than 80 years ago, even before the foundation of the PRC. A flood in the 1980s washed away some of the houses built in the same era. Yu Xueshun and his wife have one son and one daughter. Both of their children live in Hangzhou city and have two children each. Their daughter is planning to have a third child. Faded red couplets, traditional calligraphic inscriptions typically placed on doors during the Chinese New Year, are stuck on one doorway of Yu Xueshun's house. They once symbolized good fortune and prosperity.
Yu Xueshun, 71, lives at his house with his wife in the village. The house built more than 80 years ago, even before the foundation of the PRC. A flood in the 1980s washed away some of the houses built in the same era. Yu Xueshun and his wife have one son and one daughter. Both of their children live in Hangzhou city and have two children each. Their daughter is planning to have a third child. Faded red couplets, traditional calligraphic inscriptions typically placed on doors during the Chinese New Year, are stuck on one doorway of Yu Xueshun's house. They once symbolized good fortune and prosperity.
Tang Dongzhen, 66, and her husband, Yu Xueshun, 71, assemble unfinished badminton rackets at their home in Gao Ban Ling Jiao. These rackets were shipped from the Fuyang Guanshan Badminton Court factory and were distributed directly to the villagers. The villagers can choose how many rackets to process based on their own pace. The wages were very low, and it takes two people working from morning to night for two days to complete one box of rackets. This practice is quite common in rural areas in China. “We do it mostly for killing time”, Xueshun says.
Tang Dongzhen, 66, and her husband, Yu Xueshun, 71, assemble unfinished badminton rackets at their home in Gao Ban Ling Jiao. These rackets were shipped from the Fuyang Guanshan Badminton Court factory and were distributed directly to the villagers. The villagers can choose how many rackets to process based on their own pace. The wages were very low, and it takes two people working from morning to night for two days to complete one box of rackets. This practice is quite common in rural areas in China. “We do it mostly for killing time”, Xueshun says.
Villagers burn hay on the roadside in Gao Ban Ling Jiao. Ashes can be used as soil fertilizer for farming. The hay is usually corn stalks. The house behine is the village community center, where weddings, funerals, and festivals were once held. It’s rarely used nowadays.
Villagers burn hay on the roadside in Gao Ban Ling Jiao. Ashes can be used as soil fertilizer for farming. The hay is usually corn stalks. The house behine is the village community center, where weddings, funerals, and festivals were once held. It’s rarely used nowadays.
Yu Zhangfu, 84, deaf and mute, looks outside the window on a rainy day in his room. He is unmarried for life and lives alone in this village. Due to his inability to hear and speak, he grew up largely alone. His close relatives communicate with him in a unique sign language that they created since childhood, as opposed to the sign language used in schools for the deaf. The only sound he can make is almost “en, “ and the different tones of “en” are his entire language. In rural China, disabilities like deafness and muteness are not uncommon, especially in areas with a history of consanguineous marriage.
Yu Zhangfu, 84, deaf and mute, looks outside the window on a rainy day in his room. He is unmarried for life and lives alone in this village. Due to his inability to hear and speak, he grew up largely alone. His close relatives communicate with him in a unique sign language that they created since childhood, as opposed to the sign language used in schools for the deaf. The only sound he can make is almost “en, “ and the different tones of “en” are his entire language. In rural China, disabilities like deafness and muteness are not uncommon, especially in areas with a history of consanguineous marriage.
Yu Zhangfu washes his head after showering in the river. It's a common practice in this village in the summer.
Yu Zhangfu washes his head after showering in the river. It's a common practice in this village in the summer.
Yu Zhangfu’s broken watch in a basket at home.
Yu Zhangfu’s broken watch in a basket at home.
Tang Hezhen (behind), 77, Yu Rongsheng (front), 73 and Yu Gengliang (middle), 59, gather on the mountainside to pay their respects to their ancestors. Offerings of bowls, chopsticks, rice, and beverages were presented as a token of remembrance and reverence. Ghost Month, also known as the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, is a traditional Chinese festival for honouring ancestors. Sometimes, the exact honouring dates can be slightly different for each individual family. In rural China, people often desire to be closer to their ancestors, and living in a rural area means living alongside them. As a result, these ancestral worship activities or rituals are more commonly performed in rural areas. Yu Gengliang lives in Hangzhou, the provincial capital of Zhejiang, and works as an industrial materials factory manager.
Tang Hezhen (behind), 77, Yu Rongsheng (front), 73 and Yu Gengliang (middle), 59, gather on the mountainside to pay their respects to their ancestors. Offerings of bowls, chopsticks, rice, and beverages were presented as a token of remembrance and reverence. Ghost Month, also known as the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, is a traditional Chinese festival for honouring ancestors. Sometimes, the exact honouring dates can be slightly different for each individual family. In rural China, people often desire to be closer to their ancestors, and living in a rural area means living alongside them. As a result, these ancestral worship activities or rituals are more commonly performed in rural areas. Yu Gengliang lives in Hangzhou, the provincial capital of Zhejiang, and works as an industrial materials factory manager.
Yu Rongwei (left), 52, and his son Yu Chengcong (right), 13, transplant rice seedlings. The villagers here are self-sufficient, and almost every family sows rice, a staple food in southern China. Here in this village, it grows in one season a year: sown in late May and harvested in early October. According to Rongwei, the rice harvested once a year is even too much to eat.
Yu Rongwei (left), 52, and his son Yu Chengcong (right), 13, transplant rice seedlings. The villagers here are self-sufficient, and almost every family sows rice, a staple food in southern China. Here in this village, it grows in one season a year: sown in late May and harvested in early October. According to Rongwei, the rice harvested once a year is even too much to eat.
People stop to watch the helicopter rides, which are one of the entertainment facilities in the village. The buildings behind belongs to provincial officials. Two years ago, in 2022, the town began to develop its tourism industry by building resorts and recreational facilities to attract tourists mainly from Shanghai and Hangzhou. The helicopter in the picture was just delivered on 7 June 2024 and is a newly established amusement facility. However, the helicopter was removed in August 2024 due to insufficient tourists.
People stop to watch the helicopter rides, which are one of the entertainment facilities in the village. The buildings behind belongs to provincial officials. Two years ago, in 2022, the town began to develop its tourism industry by building resorts and recreational facilities to attract tourists mainly from Shanghai and Hangzhou. The helicopter in the picture was just delivered on 7 June 2024 and is a newly established amusement facility. However, the helicopter was removed in August 2024 due to insufficient tourists.
Children play in the Wonderland Resort Zhuji in the village area. This resort is part of Delonix Group, a gaint hotel group in China. Many of the village elders have found employment at the resort, primarily in housekeeping and support roles.
Children play in the Wonderland Resort Zhuji in the village area. This resort is part of Delonix Group, a gaint hotel group in China. Many of the village elders have found employment at the resort, primarily in housekeeping and support roles.
Yu Chengcong lies on the bed headboard. “I might don’t wanna go out of this town, because I’m an introverted person, and I’m afraid that I cannot make friends and get along well with them.”
Yu Chengcong lies on the bed headboard. “I might don’t wanna go out of this town, because I’m an introverted person, and I’m afraid that I cannot make friends and get along well with them.”
An old person drys bamboo poles next to an ancestral temple of Majian Town where the village belongs to.
An old person drys bamboo poles next to an ancestral temple of Majian Town where the village belongs to.
Tang Hezhen cooks at home. In the village, people still use firewood to cook. She spent her entire life in this rural village. For her, the land is the most precious thing in her life. It provides her with crops and sustains her. She fully understands why her children want to go to the big city: “Hangzhou is a good place. People there don't need to farm.”
Tang Hezhen cooks at home. In the village, people still use firewood to cook. She spent her entire life in this rural village. For her, the land is the most precious thing in her life. It provides her with crops and sustains her. She fully understands why her children want to go to the big city: “Hangzhou is a good place. People there don't need to farm.”
Tang Hezhen sits on the table and think before the dinner.
Tang Hezhen sits on the table and think before the dinner.
Zhangfu turns on the flashlights when the electricity was cut on a rainy day. Flashlights are common in this village since there are not so many lights on the road, hard to see around at night.
Zhangfu turns on the flashlights when the electricity was cut on a rainy day. Flashlights are common in this village since there are not so many lights on the road, hard to see around at night.
Villagers burn hay on the roadside in Gao Ban Ling Jiao in Zhuji, China. Aug 27, 2024. Ashes can be used as soil fertilizer for farming. The hay is usually corn stalks. The house behine is the village community center, where weddings, funerals, and festivals were once held. It’s rarely used nowadays.
Yu’s family photos on the TV table at Yu Rongsheng’s home. Most of the people in the photos are not in the village anymore.
Two “fu” characters are pasted on one door of the village’s oldest house, now abandoned. In Chinese culture, the character “福” (fú), meaning “good fortune,” is considered auspicious and is often displayed on doors, windows, and other prominent places. This tradition is prevalent during the Chinese New Year, as it’s believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and happiness to the home.
Two “fu” characters are pasted on one door of the village’s oldest house, now abandoned. In Chinese culture, the character “福” (fú), meaning “good fortune,” is considered auspicious and is often displayed on doors, windows, and other prominent places. This tradition is prevalent during the Chinese New Year, as it’s believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and happiness to the home.