Solo Parents - A Survey of China's First Generation of Solo Parents

Author: Chen Jianqiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: A sliver of sunlight streamed through the curtains. Beijing Maternity Hospital was bathed in bright sunlight. My gaze fell upon a delivery room, where a familiar, pleasant scent of a maternity hospital filled the air, evoking a sense of warmth in the world and reminding me of the continuation of life. All the expectant mothers lay quietly, each carrying a subtle tension, feeling the movements within their wombs, waiting for the arrival of new life. Such scenes occur almost every day in this renowned maternity hospital in China, repeated daily. Yet, no one had imagined that China’s 1.3 billionth citizen would be born there on this very day. Lan Hui was also quietly awaiting a sacred, specific moment. This was her second experience of creating life. Although a bit nervous, the thought of becoming a mother filled her heart with excitement. She was already 31 years old, and by all accounts, she should have been a mother long ago. Perhaps it was due to her busy work, or maybe she was following the state’s late marriage and late childbirth policy, or for other reasons. In any case, she had postponed having children in the midst of "perhaps." Today, as sunlight fell on the delivery room and the other expectant mothers discussed childbirth with bright faces, Lan Hui felt that she would soon be heading to the delivery ward to welcome the new life’s first cry. However, Lan Hui had not expected that her fetus would be so fortunate as to become the People’s Republic of China’s 1.3 billionth citizen, a child of special significance in the history of China’s population.
On January 6, 2005, time passed second by second. When the clock struck midnight, a loud cry pierced the still night sky. Lan Hui had given birth to a boy. Although she had not yet left the delivery bed and still felt the lingering afterpains of childbirth, watching the newborn, covered in blood, Lan Hui smiled happily. Lan Hui, a young mother of the People’s Republic, had fulfilled a sacred promise of life. At this moment, the history of China’s population reproduction was deeply gazing at her and her child.
According to the 2004 Sample Survey on Population Changes, the total population of mainland China at the end of that year was 1,299,880,000. Based on this calculation, mainland China’s population increased by an average of 20,800 people per day in 2004. The calculation showed that at midnight on January 6, 2005, the child Lan Hui gave birth to was China’s 1.3 billionth person. The sun began its new journey of life. A new day had begun. Several hours later, Gu Xiulian, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Chairwoman of the All-China Women’s Federation, visited Lan Hui and her child at Beijing Maternity Hospital. Zhang Weiqing, Director of the National Population and Family Planning Commission, also arrived. They were there to personally present the honorary certificate to the People’s Republic of China’s 1.3 billionth citizen. History recorded a specific moment: midnight on January 6, 2005. Because of the birth of China’s 1.3 billionth citizen, this day became a special anniversary. A loud cry was written into the history of China’s population. The blood-red dawn of the East welcomed the arrival of China’s 1.3 billionth person on the day drowsy with sleep. P9-11