China / China

The family who dreamed of a boy had six girls

(chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2011-04-12 19:35

Yuan Tieming and his wife eat lunch together with four of their girls in their courtyard in Sunyuan village of Luoyang city, Central China's Henan province, April 10, 2011.

Yuan Tieming and his wife always dreamed of having a boy together. So they moved into a hillside five kilometers away from their village in the hope of starting a family. Twelve years on the couple now have a family of six girls. They live on grain from their land, at most 200 kilos of corns a year and some vegetables. Since the family has grown, they barely have enough food. They sent their youngest child to live elsewhere four days after she was born which resulted in Yuan being arrested for child smuggling. Their permanent residency or Hukou was withdrawn without their permission 11 years ago, leaving their girls facing many difficulties getting an education. "We won't have more children," Yuan said. [Photo/CFP]

Yuan Tieming and his wife together with four of their girls play in front of their house in Sunyuan village of Luoyang city, Central China's Henan province, April 10, 2011. [Photo/CFP]