The Chinese capital Beijing has been named the most expensive global city to rent in. A report by a UK-based organization surveyed 15 global cities and found that in Beijing, average rental prices are more than 1.2 times average salaries. So under these circumstances, just how are the city's residents getting by, especially considering how many already have to stretch every buck they make?
It's 5 o'clock in the morning. For many people, it's still dream time. But Wang Qianglong doesn't have that luxury.
The 26-year-old computer programmer left his hometown 4 years ago. He now works in an IT company in southwestern Beijing's Fengtai district, more than 30 kilometers away from North Four Village.
Wang says the commute is 2 hours. He has to get up early to avoid what he calls the mess.
And just an hour after he gets on the train, we see "the mess". Standing room only, inching along, thousands of other commuters, breakfast in hand, yawning, lining up for a mile.
Locals tell us they are all outsiders. And the area where Wang lives, is home to about 90,000.
"Almost all residents here are outsiders. It's 700-800 yuan a month to rent a room here, much cheaper than the downtown areas. However, it's too far for them to go to work. But anyway, transportation doesn't cost as much as rent," Local resident said.
In North Four Village, as far as the eye can see, are rental ads. And on roof tops, lining the streets, and even the buildings under construction -- all rental housing. Wang says he can save over a thousand yuan a month living here.
"This room is about 18-20 square meters"
"Over there is a private bathroom"
"I don't cook very much"
"so there's all this stuff in the kitchen"
"After my big brother left, there's this one double bed"
"I've lived here for 2 years"
Poor lighting, cramped quarters, weak network signals -- but Wang says, there are also better jobs, more opportunities, and a brighter future.
Perhaps the hardest thing is the loneliness.
"On weekends, after getting enough sleep"
"I sometimes drink a little"
Reporter: "How do you cheer yourself up?"
"After drinking I sleep; when I wake up it's another day"
Waving goodbye to parents, heading hundreds of miles from home, and joining the surge of thousands in suburban Beijing. They all share one goal: to make their own Chinese dream come true. And living in those cramped cells only makes them more determined.
After a long day's work, they stream back to North Four. Wang says he's hoping for a promotion, and to save more money. North Four Village is full of dreams.
"My dream is to start my own business here"
"My dream is that I can have a house and a family in Beijing."
"My dream is that my boyfriend and I can get married"
"And make more money "
"My dream is to have a decent job, and be with her (pointing to his girl friend) till we are old"
"My dream is that I could stay in Beijing"
In each little room, lives someone's son or daughter, brother or sister, wife or husband.
Far from home, and dreaming of making it big, whether awake or asleep.
