Figure 3. Chinese construction projects are generally massive. Sometimes, that means dozens of square kilometers of construction sites at the fringe of the city. For workers, this could lead to their de facto confinement for months. As a result, cell phones are the only way to obtain More

Figure 4. On-site dormitories are common in Chinese construction sites. Construction companies want to ensure the minimal well-being of their workers to guarantee their productivity. The giant slogan on the background building reads: “The protection of the environment starts with me. For good More

Figure 5. Many of the films shown in construction compounds are Civil War and World War II films that depict Chinese peasants’ heroic struggle against class exploitation and foreign invasions under the leadership of the Communists. The government insists that the rural population is simpleminded More

Figure 6. Although rural migrant workers are often depicted as nameless and faceless in Chinese public discourse, they are also seen as a potential source of activism and unrest. Unsurprisingly, many construction companies use open-air cinema as a means to distract their workers, preventing them More