On the evening of November 13, 2020, eight Tibetan farmers and herders from Ziga Village, Gongbujiangda County, Nyingchi City, Tibet arrived in Zhongshan by plane for a three-month practical training.

Aniu Ciren, 30, Deng Zeng, 28, and Luosang Zhaxi, 27, were assigned to the construction site of the Guzhen Expressway (Shagu Highway) rapid transformation project governed by Road & Bridge International Co Ltd.

All construction sites in Tibet are shut down every year in November, so local farmers have no source of income during this time. In order to strengthen the cross-provincial transfer employment of farmers from Tibet, broaden their horizons and increase their labor incomes, the Zhongshan Committee on Employment Assistance to Tibet launched this new measure.

Deng Zeng smiles happily during a video call with his wife. [Photos by Yu Zhaoyu]

Local cheese is sent to relieve feelings of homesickness.

The farmers rehearse the Tibetan Guozhuang Dance for a New Year's party in their spare time.

Aniu Ciren carries steel beams.

Zhaxi (left), Deng Zeng (middle) and Aniu Ciren take turns welding.

The farmers chat with their workmates during a break.

The three Tibetan men have adapted to life in Zhongshan.

Deng Zeng (right) receives technical guidance.