An Yi ethnic minority woman who was relocated from remote areas holds a child as she stands in Xujiashan village during a government-organised media tour, in Ganluo County, China’s Sichuan Province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
An Yi ethnic minority woman who was relocated from remote areas sits in her house during a government-organised media tour, in Xujiashan village, Ganluo County, China’s Sichuan Province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
Yi ethnic minority people who were relocated from remote areas pose for a portrait in their house next to a portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping during a government-organised media tour, in Xujiashan village, Ganluo County, China’s Sichuan Province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves.
An Yi ethnic minority woman who was relocated from remote areas stands next to her house during a government-organised media tour, in Xujiashan village, Ganluo County, China’s Sichuan Province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
An Yi ethnic minority woman walks out of her house in Da’ganyi village where people who were relocated from remote areas live, during a government-organised media tour, in Ganluo County, China’s Sichuan Province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves.
Yi ethnic minority people who were relocated from remote areas gather in Da’ganyi village during a government-organised media tour, in Ganluo County, China’s Sichuan Province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
An Yi ethnic minority woman sits in Da’ganyi village where people who were relocated from remote areas live, during a government-organised media tour, in Ganluo County, China’s Sichuan Province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
Yi ethnic minority people who were relocated from remote areas stands in Da’ganyi village during a government-organised media tour, in Ganluo County, China’s Sichuan Province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
A Yi ethnic minority woman who was relocated from remote area sews with a baby sleeping on her during a government-organised media tour at Chengbei Gang’en community, in Yuexi County, China’s Sichuan Province, 11 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves.
Houses are seen for Yi ethnic minority people who were relocated from remote areas during a government-organised media tour at Chengbei Gang’en community, in Yuexi County, China’s Sichuan Province, 11 September 2020.. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves.
Yi ethnic minority women work at an apple plantation during a government-organised media tour in Yuexi County, China’s Sichuan Province, 11 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
A rural woman carries cabbages in a basket towards a truck at a vegetable plantation during a government-organised media tour in Qingshui village, Ganluo County, China's Sichuan province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
Rural people work at a vegetable plantation during a government-organised media tour in Qingshui village, Ganluo County, China's Sichuan province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
An abandoned house in a village during a government-organised media tour, in Ganluo County, China’s Sichuan Province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
Rural people work in a field in Qingshui village during a government-organised media tour, in Ganluo County, China’s Sichuan Province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
Elderly man and woman who were relocated from remote areas sit at their house during a government-organised media tour, in Qingshui village, in Ganluo County, China’s Sichuan Province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
Houses are seen in the mountains in Ganluo County, China’s Sichuan Province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
A child walks in a house of a family who was relocated from remote areas, during a government-organised media tour, in Qingshui village, in Ganluo County, China’s Sichuan Province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
A portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen in a house for relocated from remote areas people during a government-organised media tour, in Xujiashan village, Ganluo County, China’s Sichuan Province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves.
A rural woman with a child stands in front of a small shop in Da’ganyi village where people who were relocated from remote areas live, during a government-organised media tour, in Ganluo County, China’s Sichuan Province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves.
A boy climbs the road fence on a road connecting Ganluo and Yuexi counties, in China's Sichuan province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
Children who were relocated from remote areas attend a class in a kindergarten during a government-organised media tour at Chengbei Gang’en community, in Yuexi County, China’s Sichuan Province, 11 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
Children who were relocated from remote areas attend a class in a kindergarten as a portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping attached to a wall, during a government-organised media tour at Chengbei Gang’en community, in Yuexi County, China’s Sichuan Province, 11 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves.
Children who were relocated from remote areas attend a class in a kindergarten as a portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping attached to a wall, during a government-organised media tour at Chengbei Gang’en community, in Yuexi County, China’s Sichuan Province, 11 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves.
Children who were relocated from remote areas attend a class in a kindergarten during a government-organised media tour at Chengbei Gang’en community, in Yuexi County, China’s Sichuan Province, 11 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves.
Students attend a physical education class at a middle school in Yuexi county, China's Sichuan province, 11 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin
Students exercise during a physical education class at a middle school in Yuexi county, China's Sichuan province, 11 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin
Students listen to a teacher during a class at a middle school in Yuexi county, China's Sichuan province, 11 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
Boys look at a mobile phone screen in the street in Ganluo County, Liangshan Prefecture, China’s Sichuan Province, 09 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
A woman stands next to a construction site at Yuexi county, China's Sichuan province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
A girl walks with a flower next to buckets with flowers for selling in the street, in Ganluo County, Liangshan Prefecture, China’s Sichuan Province, 09 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
A woman (C) sells outfits and other accessories of China’s ethnic minorities in the street, in Ganluo County, Liangshan Prefecture, China’s Sichuan Province, 09 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin. Local officials say that none of thes
A woman walks past a propaganda banner in the street in Ganluo County, Liangshan Prefecture, China’s Sichuan Province, 09 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
A portrait of the former Chinese leader Mao Zedong is seen in abandoned house in a village during a government-organised media tour, in Ganluo County, China’s Sichuan Province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
An elderly woman cooks next to a place where she lives, at a market in Ganluo County, Liangshan Prefecture, China’s Sichuan Province, 09 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
A woman sits with children in the street at Yuexi county, China's Sichuan province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
A musicians perform in a bar in Ganluo County, Liangshan Prefecture, China’s Sichuan Province, 09 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
People walk in the street, in Ganluo County, Liangshan Prefecture, China’s Sichuan Province, 09 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
People eat in the street in Ganluo County, Liangshan Prefecture, China’s Sichuan Province, 09 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
People eat at a place where they live, at a market in Ganluo County, Liangshan Prefecture, China’s Sichuan Province, 09 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
Houses surrounded by the mountains in the area between Yuexi and Xide counties, China's Sichuan province, 11 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
A rural woman walks at Xiaoshan village during a government-organised media tour, in Xide county, China's Sichuan province, 11 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
People who were relocated from remote areas stand next to houses during a government-organised media tour at Chengbei Gang’en community, in Yuexi County, China’s Sichuan Province, 11 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
Dwelling houses in Xichang, China's Sichuan province, 11 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
Rural people work at a vegetable plantation during a government-organised media tour in Qingshui village, Ganluo County, China's Sichuan province, 10 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
Employees work at an apple factory during a government-organised media tour in Yuexi County, China’s Sichuan Province, 11 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
Employees work at Xichang factory during a government-organised media tour, in Xichang, China's Sichuan province, 11 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
An employee works at Xichang factory during a government-organised media tour, in Xichang, China's Sichuan province, 11 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
Rural people attend farmers’ night school gathering during a government-organised media tour at Xiaoshan village, in Xide county, China's Sichuan province, 11 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.
Rural people attend farmers’ night school gathering during a government-organised media tour at Xiaoshan village, in Xide county, China's Sichuan province, 11 September 2020. Over the past four decades, China says it has lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, a phenomenon that has been described as 'unmatched in human history' by politicians such as former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Over the past five years, 70 million people have been the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation schemes, according to official figures. This year, the superpower is looking to do the same for a further 30 million. China’s poor, rural population is largely located in the southwest, with Sichuan province being one of the country’s most poverty-stricken regions. Out of the approximately 200,000 people living below the poverty line in Sichuan, almost 90 percent live in Liangshan Prefecture, which is home to the largest ethnic Yi population in the country. According to official figures, there were six million people living in poverty in Sichuan seven years ago. Under the poverty alleviation program, villagers in remote areas are relocated to towns that have been built by the state and are equipped with water and electricity, healthcare facilities and schools while providing the possibility of finding employment and leaving behind the hardship of rural life. But for many of the relocated families, the sudden transition to an urban lifestyle after generations of working and living off the land has been difficult. The open air of the fields has been replaced by small, often overcrowded urban dwellings, most of which have portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping hanging on their walls. The relocated rural population told EPA-EFE that they did not hang the pictures up themselves. They are also concerned that their language and culture could be under threat, as the local schools only teach classes in Mandarin.