HOHHOT,
Jan. 29 -- In the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Gao Yucai, a citizen
in Songshan District of Chifeng City in North China's Inner
Mongolian Autonomous Region, celebrated the most important festival to the
Chinese by setting off fireworks and lighting up red lanterns.
Gao just moved into the newly-decorated home specially built by the local
government for the migrant workers of the Sanzuodian Reservoir, a major
water-control project of the city.
"The local government built a 100-square-meter home for every migrant worker,
equipped with living necessities such as sofa, double-bed, and gas cooker," he
said.
Wang Yuliang, director of the Songshan District, said the first group of 476
people from 122 families had left their home for the construction of the project
which aims to resolve the problems of water-supply, irrigation and
flood-discharge of Chifeng City.
To make the migrant workers have a good life, the local government specially
allocated a land for building a new village for them, which were completed in
November 2005.
So far all the 122 families have moved into their new homes.
"This new home, 109.6 square meters, is much larger than my previous one,"
said Sun Xiuxia.
"We got a compensation of 90,000 yuan (11,000 U.S. dollars) for the old home
and spent 56,000 yuan on the new one which has better conditions such as heating
and water-supply," she said.
In Sun's family with three generations, the juniors will toast "New Year
Wine" to their seniors in the morning of the Lunar New Year's day in line with
the customs of the Mongolians.
After the toasting, the youth will go to visit other yurts, kowtow
to their elders and enjoy drinking and dancing.
"The yurts have vanished since we settled down. Horses also take the place of
motorcycles and cars. Only the customs of visiting each other, drinking and
making good wishes for others remain," said Sun.
"Now the Mongolians and the Han people visit each other and drink together,
just like brothers and sisters," she said.
