The street sweeper in Shanghai who refuses to stay invisible
Print Edition
A year ago, Guo Chuanzhong, a 61-year-old sanitation worker in Shanghai, began sharing short videos of his daily life online. What started as a hobby soon turned him into an unlikely Internet figure. Today, the man affectionately called “Uncle Guo” has more than 200,000 followers online, and his videos have been viewed over 130 million times.
His clips are simple records of routine. In one, he films how his day begins. At 4am, while much of Shanghai is still asleep, Guo is already awake. He washes his face, grabs a quick breakfast and heads out into the dark streets.
By 5am, broom in hand, he begins clearing the leaves, dust, and litter that have gathered overnight, continuing until around 7am, when rush hour traffic fills the city. Then, after the peak eases, he resumes his work at 8am, continuing round after round of sweeping until evening, with breaks in between. His step counter shows 30,000 steps from 5am to 10am on an average day.
The videos reveal a world often overlooked.
“Some people think sanitation work is easy because they rarely see us sweeping,” Guo said. “By the time most people head to work, the streets have already been cleaned.”
At the end of one grueling shift, Guo smiles into his phone camera and signs off with the phrase: “Another fulfilling day.” His upbeat attitude has earned him the affectionate nickname “high-energy elder” online, a term used in China to describe older adults who remain active, positive and engaged in life.
“High-energy? Not really,” Guo said with a smile. “I just think whatever task you do, do it earnestly. When I finish sweeping a street, I feel happy and satisfied.”
He believes his popularity comes from being genuine, saying that nowadays technology can turn the fake into the real. “So when they see something real, they like it,” he concluded.
Behind the Internet persona is a life shaped by decades of labor. Guo is from the countryside of Linyi City in east China’s Shandong Province. When he was young, he and his wife farmed wheat and corn, with their harvests largely dependent on the weather. Later, he moved around the country, working as a carpenter.
In 1998, he came to Shanghai and made a living selling jianbing guozi, a type of Chinese breakfast crepe often filled with a crispy fritter. Later Guo tried his hand on filming with his smartphone.
Eight years ago, he switched to sanitation work for family reasons. He lost about 5 kilos in the first month of work. And his sweat-soaked shirts had to be changed twice a day. Guo felt that this was due to his inexperience. Over time, he learned the techniques of the job and found it manageable.
He likes the fast tempo of Shanghai streets, which to him feels full of vitality. He has also long been a fan of photography. With the rise in smart phones, Guo began experimenting with filming.
His daughter, who works in tech and is familiar with short video platforms, encouraged him to try it. In her eyes, Guo is an exceptionally good person — he respects his wife, loves his children and makes excellent jianbing guozi. She believes that his efforts and character deserve to be seen by more people.
Often, Guo would simply prop his phone against an electric bicycle on the street to film, and his daughter would then help edit the clips.
His online fame has led to unexpected encounters. Strangers sometimes recognize him on the street and tell him, “You are amazing.”
The attention gives him renewed energy. “I feel more motivated to work and to film,” he said.
After long shifts, one of his small pleasures now is reading comments from his followers. Some offer health advice, and at their suggestion, he has swapped some of his carb-heavy breakfasts for more protein, such as eggs, to help manage his blood sugar.
He has started to receive commercial offers, promoting items like sneakers and rice cookers. His shooting skills have improved, too. “You can’t film from the same angle all the time,” he said. “Otherwise, the audience will lose interest.”
The changes have touched more than just Guo. Over two decades on the streets, he has seen the city itself evolve.
Fewer people litter, and sanitation workers enjoy more respect. Technology has also lightened the load, with sweeping machines and water trucks handling stubborn messes like clogged drains or dog waste.
The city has also become more inclusive and age-friendly, with more parks, green spaces, and community centers. Seniors gather in public squares to dance or exercise. “When I see older people exercising, I feel happy,” he said. “But for now, I don’t have the time to join them.”
He has no plans to retire yet for financial reasons.
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