Guangzhou's Huangpu "Tongxin" Workers' Village: Helping Industrial Workers Build a Home Away from Home

"Through the clouds and winds we come, carrying dust upon our backs..." On the evening of May 1, the construction site at the "Tongxin" Workers' Village in Guangzhou’s Huangpu District was brightly lit as cement worker Yang Kuoqing delivered an emotional vocal performance. This was his second time taking the stage at the village’s cultural gala. Hundreds of fellow workers sat together in the audience, their prolonged applause dispelling the loneliness of life far from home.
Located in Jingxia Village, Huangpu District, the "Tongxin" Workers' Village is home to over 1,200 workers from across the country. Co-established by the Guangzhou Federation of Trade Unions, the Guangzhou Development District Federation of Trade Unions, the Huangpu District Federation of Trade Unions, and China Construction Science and Industry Corporation (CSCEC SCI), the village has become a "safe haven" for migrant workers striving in the city, turning strangers into a close-knit family.
To help workers transition from "migrant laborers" to "new villagers," the workers' village has introduced an innovative three-pronged management model: community-oriented empowerment, participatory self-governance, and systematic professional development. This approach ensures services truly resonate with the workers' needs.
Designed around a layout of "three zones, two streets, and one center," the village has created a 24-hour, "5-minute" convenience service circle. Facilities such as supermarkets, medical clinics, and barber shops are readily available, alongside recreational spaces like reading corners and table tennis areas. Regular events, including food festivals, are organized to give workers a true sense of warmth and belonging.
The village has also set up a "Village Committee" that incorporates representatives from multiple groups to participate in community management. Through symposiums and open reception days, workers' voices in village affairs are guaranteed. In collaboration with the local police station, a grievance feedback channel was established, ensuring that "minor issues never leave the village, and conflicts are resolved locally," giving workers greater peace of mind.
To promote professional growth, the village established a Skills Enhancement Station featuring two major training systems focused on foundational abilities and professional competencies. National Model Workers are invited to give lectures, and a structured growth pathway—"Safety Foundations, Certification Advancement, and Innovative Breakthroughs"—has been launched to help workers continually elevate their vocational skills.
The Labor Day cultural gala serves as a crucial platform for fostering unity within the village. All performances are selected through open auditions among the workers themselves, showcasing the laborers' passion for life and the pursuit of their dreams.
Today, the "Tongxin" Workers' Village builds a profound sense of belonging through attentive services and illuminates the path to career growth through skills training. While physically building the city, these 1,200-plus workers are also thriving in this "village," writing a new chapter in the aspirations and dedication of industrial workers in the new era.
(Text by Guo Jun, Hong Mingyu)