China single mum works at building sites, lifting bags of cement for 16 years to support child

A single mother in China who has worked for 16 years carrying heavy bags of cement on construction sites to care for and fund her daughter’s education has moved countless people online.

Wei Guiyun, 40, from Qidong County in Hengyang, Hunan province, central China, has gone viral online after sharing her story.

In 2010, at the age of 24, she began the labouring job while raising two young children. At that time, her daughter was two and her son just a few months old.

“With two children, the financial pressure was huge. Their father was irresponsible and unwilling to help care for them, so I had to find work to support the family. This job allowed me to do both and I could get paid the same day,” Wei told Jimu News.

Over the past 16 years, Wei has carried 25kg bags of cement up staircases every day. She earns 3 yuan (45 US cents) per bag per floor, meaning she could make around 300 yuan (US$44) for carrying 100 bags.