The combined photo taken on March 9, 2015 shows Meng Jiming (upper) getting on a bus to the coach station in Nongding Village of Bansheng County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and his mother Luo Jinye (lower) standing alone in front of their house. Nongding and Nongchao Villages are located in Bansheng County, a poor rural area of uninhabitable karst topography in Guangxi. After a short family reunion of the spring festival, young people of the two villages left their hometown again. Because of the topography and the weather, both of the two villages are unsuitable for farming. Working in east or south China's modern cities has become a major source of income for many local families and a preference for most young people. After helping their aged parents plant corns, some of them have to leave home at midnight to catch a coach in the countyseat to their faraway working places. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang) |