Hardworking sanitation worker Wang Changrong moves the city

Work hard and stay at his post for 28 years

Living in Changping District but working in Dongcheng District, Wang spent about two hours commuting from his home to work every day. "As he begins work at 6:30 am, he must get up at 4 am, otherwise he will be late," his wife Song Jiafang said. She has wondered why Wang does not think that he is working hard although he really is working extremely hard.

Tao Jianjun, head of the fifth department of Dongcheng Environmental Sanitation Center, described how hard those at the environmental sanitation center work as they "come to work when there still are stars in the sky and leave when the moon rises." "We have been working for eight hours every day and have not time to rest except during mealtimes and time when we go to the bathroom." Every environmental sanitation worker who works on the road has to walk about halfway around the Second Ring Road every day. Although "carrying dust on their bodies on sunny days and mud on rainy days," the capital's environmental sanitation workers still stay at their post all the time.

Wang is one of the most ordinary members of the group. He has worked at this arduous post in obscurity for 28 years. During those years, he has worked diligently and bore the burden of hard labor, yet has never been late or left early. He does this not only to support his family but also because he loves the environmental sanitation work.

Wang has never done advanced deeds, but he was publically praised by his colleagues for his spirit of dedication. Every time he works outside, Wang is the last one to come back. He does not leave until he has finished his task, which is the trait which has left the deepest impression on his colleagues. When he finishes his job late, he will stay in the dormitory until sunrise in order not to bother his sleeping colleagues, and then goes out to work. Although he is not talkative, Wang can always convey his warmness and caring to other people.

Tens of thousands of Beijingers were moved by the story

Having learned that Wang had an accident, many of his colleagues who had just finished their morning shift rushed to the hospital to see him without even taking off their uniforms. "He is the example that we should learn from."

Despite hospital's strong suggestion, there were still many people coming to see Wang during his almost one-week hospitalization, including colleagues, neighbors, as well as strangers that Wang has never met. Some silently wished from behind the ward’s glass that he would recover as soon as possible, and others left their donations in private without leaving their names. Almost 100,000 yuan of donations were collected from all walks of life in just several days.

"Wang is really a good man, and I hope he will recover as soon as possible." A resident who lives in Beixiaojie, the place where Wang always does sanitation work, met with Wang several times, and he expressed the respect and greetings from many of his neighbors to this ordinary sanitation worker.

January 20 will be Wang's 48th birthday. Although he will spend his birthday in the ward, a great number of people have sent their birthday greetings to Wang, and there are so many flowers for him that the ward is no longer big enough to hold them so they had to be placed in the corridor. "Many of the flowers were presented by residents that we have never met previously," said Wang's wife Song Jiafang.

Currently, Wang has become conscious after being in a coma, and his condition has been stabilized. People who are concerned about his illness all hope that Wang will get through the dangerous period and recover as soon as possible, and return to the job that he has done for 28 years.

Translated by LOTO