On October 25th, in Liuzhou, Guangxi, Qin Yuan’an, a sanitation worker, shared his passion for capturing the day-to-day lives of street cleaners through video. “I enjoy recording the hard work of sanitation workers so that more people can appreciate their efforts and be encouraged to take care of our environment,” he stated.
Recently honored as Liuzhou’s “Most Beautiful Sanitation Worker” for 2023, Qin has gained popularity online through his series of sanitation-themed videos, despite being in the profession for just over two years.
Reflecting on his journey, Qin explained that after graduating from high school, he worked in various jobs away from home. However, in 2018, he decided to return to Liuzhou’s Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County to support his aging parents while seeking a stable job.
In 2021, Qin began his career as a sanitation worker, where he drives a specialized sanitation vehicle to collect garbage in Sanjiang County. Initially, he had a limited understanding of the role, thinking it simply involved “sweeping the streets.”
Over the next year, he mastered various tasks within the sanitation sector. With a fondness for short videos, he became inspired to learn video production and document the work of his fellow sanitation workers. Lacking formal training in filming and editing, he began self-teaching through online tutorials.
“I struggled at first to grasp the logic behind video shooting, editing sequences, and music integration,” Qin shared. To practice, he utilized his spare time for more filming and experimenting, even saving money to buy a phone dedicated to shooting videos.
So far, Qin has produced over a hundred sanitation-themed short videos, which have attracted thousands of viewers. One video, highlighting the sanitation workers’ efforts in cleaning up after heavy rain, has received more than 70,000 views.
Creating these videos during his downtime, Qin acknowledges that while there is no direct financial gain from his efforts, the growing public awareness and respect for sanitation work make it worthwhile. “I’m proud to see the increasing number of tourists enjoying clean streets in Sanjiang. I feel a sense of accomplishment knowing my sweat and effort contribute to this.”
As he continues his work on the frontlines, Qin is committed to maintaining high standards of sanitation, aiming to inspire respect and appreciation for the profession he has come to love.
