Society

Migrant workers caught up in the web

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-22 15:24

BEIJING - "Xiao Zhao" does not have a personal computer, a digital camera or extra money to take lavish vacations.

However, the 19-year-old migrant worker has managed to get a photo of himself in front of London's Big Ben clock tower, which he intends to share with his colleagues.

Xiao Zhao acquired the photo by paying 15 yuan (about $2.30) at a photo studio in southwestern Beijing's urban fringe.

"It's too expensive for me to travel abroad, but I think it's fantastic to set Big Ben as the background of my photo," Xiao Zhao says. "Big Ben is a landmark of London, where my favorite soccer team lives."

The photo studio captures, edits and uploads photos to blogs for customers who don't own their own digital devices. It's a simple studio, containing only a desktop computer and a single camera in a rented room.

"We have thousands of types of backgrounds for our customers to choose from," says Shen Quanwei, the studio's manager.

"I have a QQ number and a blog," says Xiao Zhao, "but a computer is not affordable for me." QQ is a popular Chinese instant messaging program.

"Migrant workers like myself usually own low-end mobile phones, which do not allow us to record or upload video clips," Xiao Zhao says.

However, the studio's uploading service lets him to update his online photo album, allowing his family and colleagues to get a bit of insight into his life.

These types of photography studios are often found in urban villages in large cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen, where migrant workers flock to live and work.

"I have to turn off my mobile phone when I'm working, and I work more than 10 hours every day," Xiao Zhao says. "However, I like that I can reconnect with my family and friends during my limited spare time. It's now convenient for me to post my new photos on my blog," he says.