The photo shows He Wanhua (front) and her sister carry a pail of water for their family which once considered water a precious commodity.
An irrigated area named Hongsibao in north China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is home to 80,000 immigrants who moved here from the inland Xihaigu area that for decades has been afflicted by drought, infertile land and bad natural condition.
In comparison, Hongsibao is a paradise for the migrant children. Every family in the village leads a fairly comfortable life with enough cattle, sheep, and grain. Children wear pretty dresses and carry fine school supplies to their schools that are big, clean and bright. In the next three years, another 100,000 children are expected to follow their families to Hongsibao.
(eastday.com translated by Li Jingrong for www.china.org.cn November 29, 2001)
