One million of them are sleeping on the streets of Guangdong province. They are leaving the countryside to find work in the cities, where they hope to take advantage of the economic boom. Some do find work in the cities, but life there is not all they imagine. In Guangzhou, the central railway station has become a vast labor market. Many end up doing the work that city dwellers refuse.
Young girls can become prostitutes, while others are forced to beg.
And crime in cities like Guangzhou is on the rise. The Daya Bay nuclear plant began operation earlier this year 31 miles from Hong Kong. Guangdong authorities have announced they will build at least two more nuclear plants near Hong Kong. Many are concerned that millions of people living in Guangdong and Hong Kong would be seriously affected if there were an accident. More than one-fifth of abortions in China result from premarital sex, and the government is seriously considering lifting its ban on giving contraceptives to young unmarried people.