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The Men who Carried a City: Chongqing, China

Asia · Season 5 · Episode 30
Chongqing, located by the Yangtze River, was once densely packed with rows of shops, connected by streets too narrow for cars to travel. Deliveries were performed largely by Bang Bangs: laborers carrying heavy wares with their poles. But now that urban redevelopment has moved populations and provided greater accessibility, the Bang Bangs are fading from the marketplace, and those who struggle on are faced with harsh working conditions and a lack of jobs. In this episode, we feature the men who proudly carry on their shoulders the last traces of a dying legacy.

Episode Details

Air date, runtime, timezone, and episode position.

Season
5
Episode
30
Air Date
21/Oct/2016
Air Time
01:30
Runtime
28 min

Overview

Episode summary.

Chongqing, located by the Yangtze River, was once densely packed with rows of shops, connected by streets too narrow for cars to travel. Deliveries were performed largely by Bang Bangs: laborers carrying heavy wares with their poles. But now that urban redevelopment has moved populations and provided greater accessibility, the Bang Bangs are fading from the marketplace, and those who struggle on are faced with harsh working conditions and a lack of jobs. In this episode, we feature the men who proudly carry on their shoulders the last traces of a dying legacy.

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