At first sight one would think these are mothers and grandmothers taking the children out for a stroll. Reality is different. These are so-called 'ayi' or 'aunty' looking after children of other people. Very often the people working as ayi come from the countryside. They often have a child of their own that they cannot look after because they have to work in the city. They might see their own child only once a year, during Chinese New Year when they go home.