People from China's rural areas have for decades been streaming into the country's large coastal cities to make a better life. Up until recently, though, most migrants and rural residents have been left out of China's mainstream cultural life. Now that's changing.
Song Liangliang, a 26-year-old migrant worker-turned-singer, is part of a new generation of rural transplants unwilling to stay on the cultural sidelines.
Song, who grew up in Fengyang, a small town in East China's Anhui Province, showed a keen interest in singing when he was a child.
"I always followed along with singers when I watched TV shows in my childhood," Song said. "My father praised my singing and his words gave me a lot of confidence."
After dropping out of junior high school in 1991, Song went to Shanghai, where he found work as a waiter.
Like many migrants, Song had a tough life in his first years in the city, but he held onto his dream of becoming a singer.
"I often sang after work with the video CD machine in the restaurant where I worked," Song said. "I really wanted to sing on a real stage."
In 2008, Song won a silver medal in a singing contest organized by the Putuo District government in Shanghai. This gave him hope he could become a singer.
Song now sings at a lounge in Shanghai. His songs, inspired by his own struggles, have touched the hearts of many listeners.
Recently, Song participated in another singing contest for migrants in Shanghai. After singing "Lonely Due to Missing You" in the semifinal competition on October 29, a big group of fans loudly cheered him.
"If my audience feels happy about my music, I feel happy," Song said.
Song is just one of China's 200 million migrant workers eager to integrate more fully into the nation's cultural life.
Now, as the Chinese government focuses more on cultural development, both urban and rural residents are finding many more opportunities to participate in cultural activities.
From 2006 to 2010, almost 27,000 cultural centers were built or renovated in China. By 2010, cultural centers had been built in almost every Chinese village. Meanwhile, many museums, libraries and galleries in various cities now offer free admission.
The 13th Shanghai International Arts Festival, which runs from Oct.18 to Nov.18, is part of this trend as it presents a series of free performances featuring domestic and international artists.
Some of these performances are in rural suburbs, such as Chenjia Town in the city's Chongming District.
People eagerly gathered there recently to watch a performance of Brazilian and Turkish dancers. Many took a break from farming to watch the show, standing on chairs, large three-wheeled carts or motorbikes to get a better look.
Ms. Zhang, a local farmer, stood on a borrowed tricycle to get a better view.
"It's my first time to see foreign performers," Ms. Zhang said. "We are all farmers and we are really excited they have come to perform near our home."
Ms. Gu also liked the show. "It's good. I hope I can have more opportunities to attend similar shows."
Migrants and rural residents have the most to gain by inclusion in China's cultural life as they close the cultural gap between urban and rural areas. But people throughout the country will also benefit.
According to Liu Wenguo, director of the Shanghai International Arts Festival, "It's dangerous to simply develop the economy. We should notice that China needs to further develop its cultural industry and enhance people's cultural development."
