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The CITIC Tower, better known as “China Zun,” is Beijing’s tallest building. With 108 stories stretching 528 meters high, it is the majestic centerpiece of the Chinese capital’s skyline. And because Beijing is prone to earthquakes, China Zun was built to withstand up to a magnitude-8 earthquake. Impressive.
But as beautiful as it is, my video report is not about the building, but the builders who have constructed this architectural masterpiece, the vast majority of whom are referred to in China as “migrant workers”.
The term migrant worker refers to, more often than not, a working-class person from rural China who has moved to another part of the country for employment. Migrant workers play an invaluable role in keeping the country thriving, and are the unsung heroes without whom the cities would just stop working.
They keep the streets clean, the service industry going, and as you see, are leaving their mark on Beijing’s skyline.
But in return, they are not entitled to the same social services as people from the community they serve. That’s because of the “hukou” residency system which affords healthcare and other social benefits only to local residents.
The CITIC Tower, better known as “China Zun”
But still, out of necessity, they leave their homes behind in order to find work and earnings sufficient enough to take care of their families.
The Chinese Government is working to reduce this disparity in employment prospects through its Rural Vitalization Program. During the Two Sessions, President Xi Jinping urged local authorities to reenergize rural industries, increase incomes of rural residents, alleviate poverty and enrich rural life. There’s also a three-year plan underway to improve rural living environment. But for now, workers from rural communities still gravitate to the cities for work.
So why did I pick China Zun? Because it serves as a powerful metaphor for how modern day China is advancing so rapidly and boldly. I wanted to know, when the China Zun is completed later this year, whether the construction workers felt they would be back where they started even though their hard work helped elevate the living standards of others.
View of the CCTV Building from the 101st storey of "China Zun"
What I found out heartened me: Every construction worker I met had a strong sense of pride in their work, and despite the hard work and sacrifice, felt their work was worth it.
And although we didn’t include it in the video report because the glass was dirty from construction work, I can tell you that the view from the top was worth it too.
(CGTN)
