Luo Lie, 5, picks flowers as he does chores in the fields in Anshun, China. Like millions of Chinese children, the four Luo siblings are being raised by their grandparents in rural China as their parents left to find work in urban areas. While there are no official figures, a recent government report puts the number of “left behind” children at nearly 10 million, though child welfare experts estimate the number to be closer to 60 million. Local schools, educators and community charities often try to the fill the gaps. Still, many children feel the absence of interaction with their mother and/or father, creating a generation of lonely kids who experts worry may be prone to anxiety, poor school performance and depression.
Getty Images
2 of 26
Luo Hongniu, 8
Getty Images
3 of 26
Luo Gan, 10, tends to the family cows.
Getty Images
4 of 26
Luo Hongni (left), 11, and brother Luo Gan, 10, carry flowers to be used as feed while doing chores in the fields.
Getty Images
5 of 26
Luo Hongni collapses from the weight.
Getty Images
6 of 26
Luo Hongniu
Getty Images
7 of 26
Luo Gan watches as his grandfather Luo Yingtao, 64, carries hay.
Getty Images
8 of 26
Lu Guoxiu, 64, rubs warm water on the throat of grandson Luo Lie to help with his cough.
9 of 26
Luo Hongni waits outside her class at a local school.
10 of 26
ANSHUN, CHINA – DECEMBER 16: (CHINA OUT) ‘Left behind’ child Luo Hongniu,8 (R) reads in class at a local school on December 16, 2016 in Anshun, China. Like millions of…
Getty Images
11 of 26
Luo Lie (right front) listens as he sits in class.
Getty Images
12 of 26
ANSHUN, CHINA – DECEMBER 16: (CHINA OUT) ‘Left behind’ child Luo Lie,5, background right, do schoolwork in class at a local school on December 16, 2016 in Anshun, China. Like…
Getty Images
13 of 26
Joining parents in the city is not usually an option, as China’s hukou documentation system dictates that education and health care are accessible only in the district where a child is born and registered.
Getty Images
14 of 26
Luo Hangni, 11, does exercises with classmates at a local school.
Getty Images
15 of 26
Luo Lie walks home from school.
Getty Images
16 of 26
ANSHUN, CHINA – DECEMBER 18: (CHINA OUT) ‘Left behind’ child Luo Hongni11, collapses from the weight as she carries flowers while doing chores in the fields with her siblings, who…
17 of 26
Luo Gan, Luo Hongni, Luo Lie and Luo Hongniu eat together at the family home.
Getty Images
18 of 26
Luo Hongniu (center) washes clothes with brother Luo Gan and sister Luo Hongni outside the family house.
Getty Images
19 of 26
Luo Hongniu hangs laundry after washing clothes with her siblings.
Getty Images
20 of 26
Luo Hongniu does homework by flashlight.
21 of 26
Luo Yingtao smokes as he sits with his grandson Luo Gan.
Getty Images
22 of 26
ANSHUN, CHINA – DECEMBER 15: (CHINA OUT) Grandfather Luo Yingtao, 64, holds his grandson ‘left behind’ child Luo Lie, 5, in his lap as they sit at the family house…
Getty Images
23 of 26
Luo Lie keeps warm by a fire.
Getty Images
24 of 26
ANSHUN, CHINA – DECEMBER 17: (CHINA OUT) Grandfather Luo Yingtao, 64, holds his sleeping grandson ‘left behind’ child Luo Lie, 5, as they stay warm next to a fire at…
Getty Images
25 of 26
Luo Yingtao carries his grandson to bed.
Getty Images
26 of 26
From left to right: Luo Gan, 10, Luo Hongniu, 8, Luo Lie, 5, and Luo Hongni, 11.
Getty Images
