urban-rural divide

His films consistently explore the socioeconomic struggles of working-class communities, often contrasting rural poverty and urban marginalization through intimate character studies.

His work directly documents China's rapid urbanization and its devastating impact on rural communities, capturing the displacement and cultural loss of migrant workers transitioning between worlds.

His films examine the tensions between traditional rural life and modern urban existence, exploring how families navigate economic pressures and generational divides between countryside and city.