Shan Cheng Bang Bang Jun 山城棒棒军

Description:

Since the beginning of reform and opening up, hundreds of thousands of peasants from mountain villages have poured into the mountain city with bamboo poles in hand, helping townspeople carry heavy loads — hauling on their shoulders, climbing up and down the slopes — bringing vitality and bustle to the city. This "army of pole carriers" formed a special class of migrant laborers through their unregulated work: they made life easier for townspeople, but also brought trouble to the city. There are no lavish sets or profound economic reforms here, yet it truthfully reflects the stirrings and changes of ordinary people. The "army of pole carriers" will eventually disappear along with the pace of reform, but it cannot avoid leaving a heavy mark on the reform of the mountain city.
The main urban area of Chongqing is built on mountain slopes, and to weave through the streets and alleys one must climb up and down. Yet look at how today's Chongqing people still live freely, easily, and relaxed. One cannot help but mention a unique feature of Chongqing: in the streets and alleys of the city you will see groups of rural people, each holding a bamboo pole. They are called the pole-carrying army. Their range of business extends from large goods for clients, such as furniture and home appliances, to a couple of bundles of vegetables bought by townspeople. Prices are called out offhand, and a deal is settled in a few words. The client walks ahead empty-handed, while the pole carrier follows closely with the goods. Chongqing people are not afraid that the pole carrier will make off with their things; most of them are honest and trustworthy, with their own professional ethics. They come from the countryside to work in the city, relying on their own two hands. Their hard work provides convenience for thousands of households.
Today, in this new era, the pole carriers have gradually undergone a qualitative change, moving from scattered individuals toward collective organization. Some collectives have received standardized training from employers and engage in physical labor for them, with unified uniforms and unified management. There have also emerged moving stories of helping women, children, the sick, and the weak, and of acting courageously for justice, which the people of the mountain city delight in telling.