Guo Lixin

gallery chinese dreams
  • Age: 35
  • Occupation: Construction worker

I grew up in the Khorchin region of Inner Mongolia. I am ethnic Han, but we all have Genghis Khan portraits back home.

I came to Beijing a year ago to work in construction. I install teleconferencing systems in big conference buildings. I ride the bus two hours each way to work. That's four hours on the road every day.

I'm paid by the day, so I rarely take time off. I earn about 40,000 yuan ($6,400) each year. I don't pay taxes and we don't have social or medical insurance.

My Chinese Dream is to learn new skills here, and then move back to Inner Mongolia. The air is much cleaner there and the roads are less congested.

First published June 11, 2014: 5:31 AM ET

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