dust sweeper

dust sweeper, originally uploaded by china.sixty4.

the endless job of sweeping the dust - Gaoqiao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.

Since first coming to China in early 2004, I have seen countless numbers of these "road sweepers", who seemingly have a thankless, endless task. In some cities such as Taiyuan, Shanxi province, the sweepers work in groups (both men and women). Taiyuan has the added 'problem' of dust both local from coal production and dust blown into the city from the ever expanding Gobi dessert. In a relatively modern/developed city such as Ningbo the road sweepers work from very early in the morning to just before sunset. I have seen (and photographed) mechanized truck road sweepers, but these are rare.

photo: mhobbs