Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, China.

With a population of around ten million, it's one of mainland China's largest cities.

We met a young man who lives there.

I'll start streaming here.

This is Liu Lingshuo.

Everyone streams in Changsha.

No matter how over-the-top the content is, it's okay here.

Live Streamers like Liu, pull out all the stops to earn money from viewers.

Singing and dancing and eccentric fashion -

many push themselves hard to extend their reach.

The possibilities of live streaming in China are endless.

The most charismatic streamers can earn over 6,000 dollars in online payments in a single night.

I don't care about anything else. Streaming and making money are my priorities.

There are an estimated 12 million live streamers currently active in China.

My aim for the future is to be much richer than I am now.

I didn't have a great upbringing. I was behind from the beginning.

I have many regrets. We never really had much money.

If I could've sent my daughter to university, she'd have struggled less.

Every live streamer has their own story.

I want to break through my limitations.

Anything's possible.

Over six months, we followed the lives of two young Chinese live streamers.

Changsha is a city that never sleeps.

The downtown area is especially busy at night.

Changsha attracts many young people due to its thriving audio-visual industry.

Live streamers can be seen everywhere.

Changsha's regulations for live streaming on the street are more lenient than in other Chinese cities,

making it a hub for live streamers.

A streamer's main source of income is from an in-app currency, "gifts."

For example, a "heart" represents around 1 cent, a "beer" around 3.

Viewers support their favorite streamers by sending them "gifts."

Becoming a top streamer is a "dream job" for many young Chinese

with some reportedly earning as much as two million dollars a year.

Liu began live streaming two years ago.

He emulates a trainee pop idol and keeps his age a secret.

Liu is performing here for around 200 real-time viewers.

I'm hungry. I want a hotpot.

Liu streams for around 12 hours a day.

Most of his waking hours.

Looks amazing, right?

It's super hot.

The more you stream, the better the odds are of you going viral.

I often watch his live streams.

I admire his confidence.

He works really hard. That's why I follow Liu.

After a hard day's work, Liu goes home not to his house but to a 20-dollar-per-night hotel.

Other than sleeping and eating take-outs, Liu's life is centered around streetside streaming.

He can earn around 1.5 thousand dollars a month, higher than the average Chinese income.

With work hard to come by, it's a respectable sum, but not guaranteed.

I connect five mobile batteries, so that I can stream 24/7.

I don't want to run out of power when my livestream is busy.

This sword is plastic.

I use it like this when I dance.

Liu has secured a solid fanbase here in Changsha.

But he has big dreams.

I want to leave Changsha,

stream from 30 cities around China, and someday live in Shanghai.

If I stream from more cities, I could reach up to 50,000 or 100,000 viewers.

I want to grow my fanbase and earn more.

It's past midnight in Changsha.

But the downtown area is still bustling with people.

This is 22-year-old Lai Ning Xiang.

Lai is also a live streamer.

Scan this, request 3 songs and get one free.

Lai bases her streaming on singing.

She accepts requests for around four dollars a song.

I'm not that good at Cantonese, so please don't choose that one.

Lai sings a nostalgic pop hit.

I couldn't help but listen.

Lai has always loved singing, so she decided to make money from it through live streaming.

It's been three years, but she hasn't gained as many fans as she'd hoped.

This is due to a sharp increase in streamers who sing.

The more rivals you have, the more you need to innovate.

I used to sing here all night, but there are too many of us here now.

Lai uses this old three-wheeler delivery vehicle to transport her equipment.

See you.

It's 4 a.m.

Lai arrives at an all-night restaurant.

Hi, everyone. How about a song?

I'll sing for you.

That's a good idea.

It doesn't matter who sings.

Give us a song?

Lai tries to be innovative - she accepts requests and does duets.

Lai earns around 65 to 130 dollars per day.

She works all night and returns home exhausted every morning.

Lai was brought up in Ganzhou in Jiangxi Province.

Ganzhou is a rural village in the mountains.

Her parents were migrant workers and after they divorced,

she and her mother moved to Changsha when Lai was still small.

Get up.

I'm not dressed.

Never mind. Get up.

Chen is Lai's mother.

In the country, she used to work in the fields.

But since moving to the city, she's raised Lai on her own, working in restaurants.

I want to make my daughter good food.

She loves shrimp and chicken.

I'll peel the shrimp for you.

Eat it properly.

This is how you do it.

If you peel it like this, you can eat it all.

Since Lai started streaming, she only gets the chance to talk with her mother at mealtimes.

I know work is tough for my daughter.

I worry that she may get sick.

Girls shouldn't have to struggle like that.

Working nights has taken its toll on Lai.

You have a swollen throat.

What should I take for it?

Does it hurt? Do you have a cough?

I think I've overused my voice.

Throat medicine and lozenges are a must for Lai.

I'm worried. But it can't be helped.

I need to make money, so I have to sing even if my throat hurts.

Lai shows us something she treasures.

These are my scholarship certificates.

This one carries particular prestige.

Lai attended high school on scholarships, her grades putting her in the top class for three years.

But after entering college, she had to quit in just two weeks.

To be honest, I wanted to continue but Mom told me the computer I needed was too expensive.

I didn't know what to do for a while, but I had no way of earning as I was just out of high school.

I couldn't afford a 1,000 dollar computer, and I didn't want to put a strain on Mom anymore.

I decided to quit college because I didn't want to lean on my family.

I want to have more money in the future.

I'd like to open a shop and lead a better life.

Other than daily expenses, Lai puts aside the rest of her streaming income for the future.

But she keeps this secret from her mother.

Liu feels it's time to explore new horizons.

He's planning to leave Changsha and travel around China for eight months.

He wants to gain a bigger following.

Liu comes from a rural area of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

His parents raised Liu and his sister from their earnings as rural migrants in the city.

China's household registration system indicates whether you have an urban or rural background.

Many rural households rely on growing their own food to survive.

And if they migrate to the city for work, they're not covered by the same social benefits as city dwellers.

Even so, as money is scarce in rural areas,

many are forced to move to the city to find jobs, primarily as manual laborers.

These rural migrants have contributed significantly to China's rapid economic growth since the 1980s.

My family home in the countryside is pretty humble.

As my parents are in their fifties, no one in the city will employ them.

So they have to farm the fields.

Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province is around 900 kilometers east of Changsha.

It has a population of approximately 12 million.

The IT venture industry has helped the city achieve rapid development over the past few decades.

Liu prepares his streaming gear.

To grow your audience, your location is vital.

It's best if there's a famous landmark in the shot.

Liu says if viewers react positively to you on the app,

it's likely you'll be recommended to others.

Attracting new fans is vital.

Liu's strategy is to dance to pop songs in front of city landmarks.

I know him from TikTok.

He's very good. I admire his courage to dance in public.

Liu attracts over 1,200 viewers.

His approach dancing in front of famous landmarks is more successful than usual.

Liu is on his game but then...

You're not allowed to stream here.

How about over there?

No, you can't.

I'll go somewhere else.

I'm going.

Regulations for live streaming in Hangzhou are much stricter than Changsha.

As Liu can only perform in side streets, his viewership drops dramatically.

It's midnight.

The temperature has fallen below 10 degrees centigrade.

Only Liu's most loyal fans are still watching.

Liu decides to change a strategy.

Good evening. You have a beautiful voice.

Liu sets up a PK battle, competing with another streamer for gifts.

Streaming side-by-side in real-time, the streamer who gets the most gifts wins.

Help me, guys!

I'm running out of time! I need a miracle!

Liu reaches out to his core fans.

But this time, Liu loses the battle.

As the loser, he has to do some push-ups.

Today, Liu only earned 65 dollars for a night's streaming.

Much less than he'd hoped.

Since coming to Hangzhou, my viewers have dropped to under a few dozen.

I can normally attract around 500.

In the winter, viewers aren't that enthusiastic.

Things didn't go well this time.

The reality of the first leg of Liu's Chinese city tour is a bitter pill for him to swallow.

Liu decides to head for Shanghai, the city of his dreams.

How are you feeling?

I've got motion sickness.

You should rest. You're probably overtired.

Streaming in an unfamiliar city has left Liu exhausted, both physically and mentally.

But he still believes live streaming is the only way to get ahead.

I once worked in a factory in Shenzhen.

It was a dark period in my life.

The production line manager would call the workers dogs and pigs, and he'd kick us.

Most would just laugh it off.

But I couldn't put up with it and quit, without being paid.

I don't want to work for anyone else again.

10 a.m. Changsha.

Lai has just returned home from another busy night.

This light gets very hot. It makes me sleepy.

Come on, request a song.

Go to sleep!

You're up all night. You should change jobs.

I'm fine.

It's not worth it. You haven't earned much this month, have you?

I love what I do.

But you need to make money.

It's not your business.

I keep telling you to quit, don't I?

Why can't you answer me properly?

You make me so mad.

Lai continues streaming, although her mother can be heard in the background.

She's never once done the washing.

Chen's chronic rheumatism has worsened over the last two months,

and she's had to quit her restaurant job.

Both mother and daughter are finding it hard to make ends meet.

I've done all kinds of jobs, and I've always worked.

My husband ran off with all the money we made when we ran a restaurant.

It's been a real struggle. It's been tough.

I see myself in my daughter.

I don't want her to experience the same hardships.

Lai has started taking dance lessons.

With so much competition, her live streaming has plateaued.

She's thinking of adding dancing to her performance to attract more fans.

While I still have the energy, I have to keep going.

I have to put the work in now.

I must grab any chance I have.

Shanghai, China's largest city.

Approximately 24 million people inhabit the bustling metropolis.

To many Chinese, it's a symbol of wealth and prosperity.

Liu is determined to make his time in the city a success.

It's my first time in Shanghai, so it's a new world to me.

Shanghai people are wealthy. There are many opportunities here.

If things go well, and if there's enough interest, I can grow my audience.

That's the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. It's my first time to see it.

Liu's strategy for Shanghai is unchanged.

He'll find a well-known landmark and dance in front of it.

Liu has faith in his tried and tested strategy.

But this time, he receives a frosty reception.

That was my first dance.

Thank you.

I don't see any other streamers here.

I stick out like a sore thumb.

Street streamers are a rare sight in Shanghai.

As always, Liu gives it everything.

But some of the comments he's receiving are extremely disparaging.

"I’ve seen better grade school students."

"No one in Shanghai cares about you."
"You’re an embarrassment."

Liu struggles to live up to the high expectations of the people of Shanghai.

Wherever I've gone, there's been no growth.

I've tried everything, but nothing's worked.

On the streets of Shanghai, Liu has only found disappointment.

Back at his hotel, he is welcomed with a surprise.

A birthday cake from his fans!

Liu immediately goes live again.

"I hope you'll continue to have pride in yourself and take on the world."

"Hold your head high! Happy Birthday!"

This is a wonderful message.

The handwriting is so beautiful.

I've never received this kind of attention from anyone before.

I've never had so many people say Happy Birthday to me or buy me a cake.

It's also the first time for me to get flowers.

Liu's fans mean everything to him.

I don't know what to do. Whether to carry on or not.

My viewership dropped to 50 at one point today.

Tomorrow might be tough, too. But please cheer me on.

I hope all your dreams come true.

It's Christmastime in Changsha.

Lai and her mother go shopping.

Do you have any bigger apples?

They're not out.

But it's Christmas.

Around Christmas in China, it's become popular to give your partner or friends a festive "peace apple."

Lai and her mother buy 17.

Lai plans to sell them while she streams.

Why did you buy this fancy wrapping? Wasn't there anything simpler?

Leave it to me. I can do it myself.

It's quicker if we do it together.

Each apple cost them around 40 cents.

They discuss how much they should sell them for.

This is hard work so how about five dollars for one?

That's too much. Peace apples usually go for about four dollars.

Work on your sales talk.

Tell them you're broke and need help.

In the end, the two of them settle on four dollars per apple,

around ten times the price they purchased them for.

Show me. You look cute.

Well, I take after you.

Don't show off.

See you later.

Drive carefully.

Don't go too fast. Take it easy.

Lai's mother has always had her daughter's back.

And Lai wants to give her mother a better life.

It's 9 p.m., and Lai is in her usual area.

Would you like a peace apple?

She live streams as she sells.

Hello. How about a peace apple?

Hey handsome, peace apple?

There are many street stalls close by, also selling peace apples.

But Lai carries on undeterred.

In a few years, I want to open a music bar.

I want Mom to work there.

It takes Lai two days to sell all 17 apples.

Please take a seat.

It's Chinese New Year and Liu is on his way to his parents for an annual visit.

When I go home, I always give my parents about 650 dollars each.

It's Chinese New Year, and I want to make them happy.

My younger sister is in university, so I support the four of us.

After a six-hour journey, Liu arrives home.

Liu is from Mengshan, in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Surrounded by mountains, arable land is scarce.

After a year away, Liu's family are happy to see him again.

It's the live streamer!

Yeah, I'm him!

I'm your fan!

Have you eaten?

Yes!

Liu savors his mother's home cooking.

It was snowing on the way home.

You never wear enough. Weren't you cold?

I was freezing.

Your hands were blue.

Liu's parents always try to keep track of his live streams.

I often watch his streams, but he worries me. He dances in all kinds of weather.

Any parent would feel the same.

We don't have much. All we can do is give him moral support.

He knows that he can come to us if he needs to, And we are always here for him.

No matter what, we look out for him.

My parents want me to look for a stable job around here.

But I can earn more in the city.

That's why I want to stay there.

Although live streaming is a tough business, Liu wouldn't be able to earn a higher income any other way.

And of course, pleasing his fans is his greatest joy.

Eventually, I want to buy a house in Changsha.

I'll probably be married and have two or three kids by then.

I could show my parents around when they come and stay.

Changsha is alive with people for the Chinese New Year.

Lai is working at a restaurant in the center of town.

One lamb skewer.

Sure.

The Chinese New Year brings manpower shortages, and part-time jobs pay more than three times the usual rate.

I have to do my best during the Chinese New Year.

It's a chance to earn extra.

Once her restaurant work is over, Lai makes her way to her usual spot on the street.

She's resolved to carry on live streaming, for both herself and her mother.

Liu is back in Changsha.

I just want to live a normal life.

But I'd probably need to work 12 to 16 hours a day.

I'd have to work twice, five, or ten times harder than everyone else.

Liu has been preparing for his day's live streaming since the crack of dawn.

He returns to the fray once more.

Good morning, guys.

Liu may not be as privileged as some, but his commitment to his dreams is unwavering.

You've got to be dedicated.

It's about consistent effort.

I will succeed.

Another day begins in a big Chinese city.

The live streamers take to the streets once more.