According to a worker overseeing them, Zhang Yan is from Wuchang and Han Xiaoyu is from Jixi. Both are 25 years old this year and have been in the profession for over two years. This job is the first one they’ve taken on this year.
The worker also told reporters that they are mainly responsible for cleaning the external walls and glass of buildings. They usually start taking jobs in early spring and can continue working until around late October, after which the cold weather makes the job impossible. In the past, they would typically get a job every two or three days, and at peak times, they could receive two jobs in a single day. But now, with buildings getting taller, the work has become more strenuous, and finishing a job in two days is considered fast.
Looking at the simple smiles on these “spidermen,” the reporter couldn’t help but reflect that it is such optimistic young people who rid the icy city’s skyscrapers of the dust of winter—these are the ones who give Harbin a fresh new look.