Related News
Home
» City specials
» Hangzhou
Braving the 'furnace' to get the job done
By Xu Wenwen and Luo Hanlin |
August 1, 2012, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
IN "furnace" city Hangzhou, scorching summer temperatures have kept many residents indoors during the hottest hours over recent weeks. However, by the nature of their jobs, some people have to work under the burning sun.
Yesterday, Shanghai Daily's Hangzhou Special carried the stories of a traffic policemen, a garbage cleaner and a community security guard who brave the heat to carry out their jobs.
Today, we hear from a lifeguard, a construction worker and a delivery rider and learn how they cope with the "furnace."
Yang Jidi, lifeguard
Yang Jidi is deeply tanned, as dark as Chinese people from coastal areas who are exposed to the big sky and elements all year round. But Yang is a city boy from Zhuji in Zhejiang Province and has only acquired his tan dark since he began working as a lifeguard over the past two summers.
"I guess the humid air plus the sunshine accelerates the tanning," says the 21-year-old.
Yang works at Hangzhou Amusement Park's water park, which offers an array of paddling and swimming pools, and his job is to ensure visitors stay safe.
Before taking the job, Yang studied architecture in vocational school, but his life-long fascination with water led to him becoming a lifeguard. "Since I was a boy I've loved water; I love to swim and catch fish and shrimps in rivers," Yang explains.
He has a clear view of his work responsibilities. "Customers are God, while a lifeguard is someone who, if required, gives God another life."
Ironically, though they spend their days next to water, lifeguards seldom take a dip in the pools to cool down during work hours. Mostly, they are exposed to the sun, sitting on a ladder chair or patrolling the pools.
And every evening when the lights are dimmed and a "dancing party" is held in one of the pools, lifeguards need to be especially vigilant, as excited visitors are in party mood.
"It's a job requiring patience, good eyesight and expertise," Yang says.
There are eight lifeguards assigned to the pools in the water park, all holding professional certificates. They work from 11:30am to
9pm. The water park is only open during the summer, and outside the season, they are
assigned to other roles in the amusement park.Wang Wuhan, delivery riderWang Wuhan picked up a job as a delivery man when he was 20, and now 34, still works for the same company.
A native of Chun'an County, Zhejiang Province, Wang has worked in Shentong Express Company's Hangzhou branch, collecting and delivering express packages in two office buildings in downtown.
On an average day, Wang receives 150 packages and delivers another 150. Usually Wang rides his scooter for more than two hours, without any cap or helmet.
"I'm more than used to it," he says. "This is my 14th summer as a delivery man, and I don't think the high temperatures are a big deal, nor are the cold winters."
Every day, Wang works from 8am to 8pm. Each morning, he takes packages from a collection and distribution center and sends those packages. In the afternoon he receives packages and in the evening he sorts the packages he has received and sends them to the center for overnight delivery.
With 14 years in the job, Wang is familiar with almost every worker in the buildings
he visits - he calls them by their names, knows their titles and is clear about who does what.
"My customers and I trust each other, and that's one reason that why I don't change job," he adds.It's early afternoon and the temperature is close to 38 Celsius degrees, sending Hangzhou residents scurrying for shade. But Wang Qingxiong doesn't have this option and continues working on a building site on Wenyi Road.
The 44-year-old from Nanchong, Sichuan Province, is one of 1,800 construction workers on this site. Under his bright orange safety helmet, Wang is bathed in sweat.
The building is almost finished, and Wang is working on the interior, shuttling between outdoors and indoors. Even indoors it is still "hot and muggy if it's not well-ventilated," says Wang.
When Shanghai Daily reporter meets Wang, he is inside, carefully laying white marble floor tiles. He prepares the floor; applies the adhesive; lays the tile; adds cement grout to fill the joints, gently wiping away the excess; then he taps the tiles with a rubber hammer to ensure they are firmly in place.
Wang usually works like this for 10 hours a day, and every day after work he is exhausted.
"But once I think about that I can earn more than 7,000 yuan (US$1,099) a month, I'm satisfied," he says.
Wang came to Hangzhou with a construction team last year, leaving his wife and children in his hometown.
"My son is still at school, and my daughter has graduated. She's now working in a
factory," Wang says.
A smile breaks across his sun-bronzed face as he talks of his family.
"I miss my family. Once this job is over, I'll return home and spend sometime with them again," Wang says.Wang Qingxiong,
construction worker
Yesterday, Shanghai Daily's Hangzhou Special carried the stories of a traffic policemen, a garbage cleaner and a community security guard who brave the heat to carry out their jobs.
Today, we hear from a lifeguard, a construction worker and a delivery rider and learn how they cope with the "furnace."
Yang Jidi, lifeguard
Yang Jidi is deeply tanned, as dark as Chinese people from coastal areas who are exposed to the big sky and elements all year round. But Yang is a city boy from Zhuji in Zhejiang Province and has only acquired his tan dark since he began working as a lifeguard over the past two summers.
"I guess the humid air plus the sunshine accelerates the tanning," says the 21-year-old.
Yang works at Hangzhou Amusement Park's water park, which offers an array of paddling and swimming pools, and his job is to ensure visitors stay safe.
Before taking the job, Yang studied architecture in vocational school, but his life-long fascination with water led to him becoming a lifeguard. "Since I was a boy I've loved water; I love to swim and catch fish and shrimps in rivers," Yang explains.
He has a clear view of his work responsibilities. "Customers are God, while a lifeguard is someone who, if required, gives God another life."
Ironically, though they spend their days next to water, lifeguards seldom take a dip in the pools to cool down during work hours. Mostly, they are exposed to the sun, sitting on a ladder chair or patrolling the pools.
And every evening when the lights are dimmed and a "dancing party" is held in one of the pools, lifeguards need to be especially vigilant, as excited visitors are in party mood.
"It's a job requiring patience, good eyesight and expertise," Yang says.
There are eight lifeguards assigned to the pools in the water park, all holding professional certificates. They work from 11:30am to
9pm. The water park is only open during the summer, and outside the season, they are
assigned to other roles in the amusement park.Wang Wuhan, delivery riderWang Wuhan picked up a job as a delivery man when he was 20, and now 34, still works for the same company.
A native of Chun'an County, Zhejiang Province, Wang has worked in Shentong Express Company's Hangzhou branch, collecting and delivering express packages in two office buildings in downtown.
On an average day, Wang receives 150 packages and delivers another 150. Usually Wang rides his scooter for more than two hours, without any cap or helmet.
"I'm more than used to it," he says. "This is my 14th summer as a delivery man, and I don't think the high temperatures are a big deal, nor are the cold winters."
Every day, Wang works from 8am to 8pm. Each morning, he takes packages from a collection and distribution center and sends those packages. In the afternoon he receives packages and in the evening he sorts the packages he has received and sends them to the center for overnight delivery.
With 14 years in the job, Wang is familiar with almost every worker in the buildings
he visits - he calls them by their names, knows their titles and is clear about who does what.
"My customers and I trust each other, and that's one reason that why I don't change job," he adds.It's early afternoon and the temperature is close to 38 Celsius degrees, sending Hangzhou residents scurrying for shade. But Wang Qingxiong doesn't have this option and continues working on a building site on Wenyi Road.
The 44-year-old from Nanchong, Sichuan Province, is one of 1,800 construction workers on this site. Under his bright orange safety helmet, Wang is bathed in sweat.
The building is almost finished, and Wang is working on the interior, shuttling between outdoors and indoors. Even indoors it is still "hot and muggy if it's not well-ventilated," says Wang.
When Shanghai Daily reporter meets Wang, he is inside, carefully laying white marble floor tiles. He prepares the floor; applies the adhesive; lays the tile; adds cement grout to fill the joints, gently wiping away the excess; then he taps the tiles with a rubber hammer to ensure they are firmly in place.
Wang usually works like this for 10 hours a day, and every day after work he is exhausted.
"But once I think about that I can earn more than 7,000 yuan (US$1,099) a month, I'm satisfied," he says.
Wang came to Hangzhou with a construction team last year, leaving his wife and children in his hometown.
"My son is still at school, and my daughter has graduated. She's now working in a
factory," Wang says.
A smile breaks across his sun-bronzed face as he talks of his family.
"I miss my family. Once this job is over, I'll return home and spend sometime with them again," Wang says.Wang Qingxiong,
construction worker
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
