"A phone and a bike—and I'm off."
In Baihou Town, Dapu County, in eastern Guangdong's Hakka region, retiree-turned-content creator Yang Zhannong begins another day of filming with a smartphone and a bicycle. "A phone and a bike—and I'm off," he says.
Yang Zhannong during an interview with the author
To document his hometown, Yang taught himself how to shoot and edit short videos. Over the past two years, he has maintained a steady schedule of posting a new video every two days, using Hakka to tell the stories of life in Baihou Town across WeChat Channels, Douyin and Kuaishou.
The video content created by Yang Zhannong, a Hakka internet influencer
His videos have also gained a following overseas. "Many people from Baihou live in Malaysia, Singapore and other countries," Yang said. "They follow my channel to keep up with life back home. Whenever I post a video, they watch it and share it with friends and family abroad."
Comments left by overseas Chinese on Yang Zhannong's channel
During the interview, Yang expressed interest in learning to use a drone to capture his hometown from new perspectives. Asked what motivates him to maintain such a steady posting schedule, he replied, "It's just fun." The vibrant life of his hometown and interactions with followers at home and abroad keep him inspired to continue creating content.
Yang Zhannong learning about drone aerial photography from the author
"I'm just happy to be back."
Some 70 kilometers away, in Changjiao Village, Liao Lenian, a Malaysian Chinese in his 80s, converted his ancestral home into a free English school in the countryside and has been teaching there for the past 25 years. Some wonder why he chose not to spend his retirement in Malaysia, instead returning—despite speaking neither Mandarin nor Hakka at the time—to teach free of charge in a village that then had few amenities. His answer is simple: "I'm just happy to be back."
The ancestral home where Liao Lenian runs his free school
Liao Xiangxian, one of his students, told us, "Over the years, our teacher has supported many children from disadvantaged families. He paid their school fees and even provided room and board." At its peak, his modest classroom was packed with 300 to 400 students. Today, far fewer children attend in person, prompting Liao to plan online lessons on Douyin starting next year.
A plaque presented to Liao Lenian, saying: "The broader the heart, the broader the world."
Asked why he has devoted decades to education, Liao replied simply: "Because it makes me happy." For him, that happiness comes from seeing children learn and grow.
Liao Lenian teaching a class
Though their paths are different, both Liao and Yang have found renewed purpose in retirement—one through education and the other through storytelling. Their experiences show that a meaningful second chapter can begin at any age.
Author | Lin Li, Huang Shuhan, Zhao Yixin, Mu Xiaolu (Guangdong University of Foreign Studies), Chen Weixin, Zhang Weian (Guangdong University of Finance)
Editor | Liu Lingzhi
Photo | Guangdong University of Foreign Studies
