Retirees go back on the road as street performers

Updated: 2013-12-20 10:45

(chinadaily.com.cn)

After harvesting season, a group of people all older than 60 embarked on a journey of 1,200 kilometers, from Central China's Henan province to South China's Guangzhou city. Along the way, they made a living by performing Henan opera on the street.

The four senior citizens from Taikang county in Zhoukou city were once professional Henan opera players, and they turned to do farm work after their art troupes disbanded. Missing their old days on stage and hoping to visit new places, they took up their old career and set off on the journey.

They now live in a small rental house in Guangzhou, two of them sharing a wooden sleeping board. With a daily income of about 100 yuan ($16) from passersby, they can barely pay for their food and rent.

Xu Jiazhi, the most senior member at 80 years old, said his children have long been working in South China's cities such as Dongguan and Shenzhen. Lonely and unattended, he said he hopes the trip can help him become financially independent and escape the cold winter of his hometown.

But Xu insisted he is not wandering. "Emperors in operas liked to travel. I'm traveling, just like them."

All photos from Tencent's documentary photography program, To Live.  Four retirees perform Henan opera on the street while traveling from Central China's Henan province to South China's Guangzhou city. [Photo/Qiao Junwei]