🇨🇳Kay Kay: The Girl from Guangzhou | Witness

Kay Kay is the face of modern day China, a bright, educated and ambitious 20 year old living in the booming southern city of Guangzhou. She represents a new generation of middle class Chinese 'only' children, benefiting from China's economic growth as well as the single-minded dedication of her factory-worker parents.
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[@Angeandrowan1]

Oh my gosh! What she said of her parents in the end.. It made me cry.. Best of luck to you, Kay Kay! With such a humble soul and so much appreciation for what's been done for you, you will go far in life.

[@edrosenberger6947]

Kay Kay's parents have every right to be very proud of their wonderful, intelligent daughter.....and she honors them. I adore her lovely personality.

[@Yogirliej4dee]

Ed Rosenberger yeah and with only one kid they can be very different and there is no telling what kind of person the kid will turn out to be.

[@davionkye9161]

I know im asking the wrong place but does anybody know a trick to log back into an Instagram account?? I was dumb lost my password. I love any assistance you can give me.

[@winniehwm]

Omg! I'm from Guangzhou and I was born in 1992. Watching this doc is like having the flashback of all my life time

[@annemurphy8257]

What a lovely young woman, as a child she had her extended family around her building up a sense of security within her. Her parents are so loving supportive & kind, as she said herself “they were like a mountain behind her making her run”. She is now a beautiful, bright & intellectually engaging adult, her teeth are straight & white all down to her loving & caring father & mother. I pray that God protects all 3 of them keeping them very close, may she make a good marriage & have children bringing joy to her most deserving parents.

[@philipt6621]

I was born in Guangzhou in 1992 too.Watching this documentary seems like watching what i experienced.And Kay Kay's opinions are representing most of ours.

[@MyLilNicole]

When they started this film/video, knowing it would span a few years, they could not have possibly known how it would eventually turn out for this family and for their subject in particular, Kay Kay. I am so happy and relieved that she actually grew up to be a wonderful person with a really bright personality. Her parents did right to her, but they are also very lucky coz sometimes even with the best of intentions you might still end up with a disappointing child. I hope we can have an update of her life after 10 more years. Good job Al Jazeera.

[@enlighten_me1912]

What great parents. They have given and provided exceptional support for Kay Kay and she has grown to be such a beautiful human being. The producers did an awesome job picking Kay Kay to document for 20 years. Such a bright, clever, and spunky girl. What change can bring in 20 years is astounding.

[@YoAddicts]

Ahhh....I remember those times in China. I used to visit China with my parents almost every year as a child. The air was polluted, streets were dirty and there were constructions everywhere I went that I did not understand what was going on. Now I can see the development clearly. It's impressive a country can modernize GZ so much in just 20 years.

[@tarabee3350]

Respect to her parents for working so hard to give her the best they can provide

[@TheStigmawarriors]

She is a beautiful girl. I love the parts when she was little. :-) She was so adorable. And I'm so glad her parents really did everything they could to make sure she had a great childhood and upbringing. She's going to be somebody special.

[@karjam9936]

Stigma Warriors She already is, it was refreshing to see!

[@Yogirliej4dee]

Stigma Warriors I think her mom made the right choice by not letting her kid watch t.v at three. I love how she answered the camera persons questions! I wonder how her classmates are doing now? It's been 8 years. I hope she found a job since it's not easy in china.

[@mony2k6]

What an amazing story. It was great seeing the difference over a 20 year period. Her parents worked hard and taught her a lot. I hope she is successful in the future.

[@MehulKamdar]

What a sweet child! Wishing her much success!

[@atlaslex]

Woah, her personality was exactly the same from 3 on! I can't help but find that captivating.

[@marshmallow7640]

I agree, nature over nurture it seems

[@benbrown5159]

What an excellent program! To watch a family raise a child from a baby all the way to college age in less than an hour is just incredible! Thanks to the filmmakers and to Al Jazeera for this wonderful documentary. Programming like this is what makes Al Jazeera superior to other news channels. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@chenamy1014]

This is so cool !!! I born on the late 90s , so it really cool to see what does it look it in early 90s !! Thanks for sharing. Amazing film

[@chenamy1014]

And I am also from Guangzhou 😊

[@patriciaorsborn7165]

Chen Amy Lol, when I "look back to the time I was born, it's a radically different period!!! In the 1960's, if a family had TV, it was black and white, no remote control-my father called ME his remote lol. No VCR, certainly no computer, no cell phone, no satellite TV, no cars with air bags, the list is practically endless. The difference between the time periods you mentioned are not nearly as different as mine!! I really wish I had been a person who used a journal or diary, at your age that is the best advice I can give you. Have a happy and blessed life, I wish you all the best!! Live with no regrets!

[@benboomokawa2521]

Uhh😖, I'm fromTianhe, Guangzhou. I came to the states for school when I was 19, now I am 29 working in the states. This video brings back every bit of my memory, not only the change in the city, also the language (Guangzhou style cantonese). Thank you for your professional, and may Kay Kay all the best in her future journey.

[@krollpeter]

I did visit Guangzhou the first time in 1996. It was a nightmare. The polution was beyond description, the amount of buildings under construction unbelievable, the roads were full of people who carried piled up stuff on bicycles, everywhere giant potholes and lousy pavement, practically the entire city center was turned upside down. And the dirt, OMG. There were practically only 2 hotels suitable for foreigners in the center, the Garden Hotel and another one which name I forgot. Compared, today it is certainly a 1000% improvement. But objectively seen it is an ugly monster even today. BTW. I worked and lived in Tianhe for 18 months.

[@supertouring1]

This show was aweseome! I hope he continues to follow her in the coming years!!

[@meteorseu]

What a great documentary! I was moved when watching this. It got me back to my childhood years, and shows how China was moving forward. Now I have a daughter too, I will let my daughter see this film too, help her to understand the recent past time of China.

[@yiqiliu8618]

I was born in 1992 in Guangzhou, too. when I was watching this video, i feel like i was watching my life. those skool, textbook, eye execrises were parts of my life. however, i had no ideas that what was happening outside my life by then, all I knew was there were many highrises appeared. Now i know, it was one of the rapid economic growth in human history, while i was having a greatest time in my life in the skool. Now im sitting in a western country, and im watching this video. feel kinky

[@00SynchronFan00]

when Kay Kay is an old woman, she can look back on her life with this documentary.

[@disrael2101]

give us an update docu 10 years later :)

[@JasonSputnik]

Another excellent piece by AJE Witness program! I travelled briefly to Guangzhou and definitely felt an atmosphere of economic "boom" even in 2014. Watching the growing up of Kay Kay and the changing in the city (and China society) is incredible. She's definitely a bright girl, the hope of the new generation China. My first experience in China in 2008 was not as good: I had my fair share of dealing with rude selfish people and dirtyness. Once back in 2014 I was very surprised to see how in few years pollution levels were more acceptable and also the people seemed better educated, not to mention the services, which improved greatly. Next year I'm going back again, can't wait! Let's hope to meet the beautiful Kay Kay haha ;)

[@matildakabissi7926]

Jason Sputnik did you go back? How did you find it this time? Just curious

[@JasonSputnik]

I couldn't go to Guangzhou and "proper" China, just HK (which is very different from mainland China) and Shenzhen: the latter was more built up but again better in term of environment and services than in 2014. I really think that one year in China is like 4-5 years in Europe.

[@lreed2]

Amazing film and amazing girl! Thanks for sharing!

[@idofdm7625]

As a third generation diaspora Chinese living in America past 30+ years, I really hope Kay Kay is the representative of new generation in China where life is good enough that they can have higher aspiration like people in first world to pursue individuals dream including as she said at the end make China even a better place for generations to come! BTW good job Mom and Dad raising Kay Kay! I'm only sad Kay Kay doesn't speak Cantonese since I'm Cantonese myself :)

[@sednalkram]

In the beginning scenes, they are all speaking Cantonese...she speaks pu tong hua when being filmed which makes sense. Actually, these native Cantonese speakers speak slower and more clear Mandarin that native Mandarin speakers...

[@joannewang86]

In moments talking directly with her parents (such as when they're watching soccer/football on the tv), she speaks Cantonese. It's mainly in the scenes at school or talking directly with the interviewer she uses Mandarin. It's great if she can maintain fluency in both through her life; likely she will since her parents both speak it to her.

[@wennnnndyhabibi]

this documentary reminds me a lot of the years I've spent in guangzhou as a child when I used to visit my grandma.

[@alex73217]

This video shows a lot of dedication, to keep something like this up for 20 years... impressive

[@muhammadjamaludin3736]

So like see this video. She have great family, they love each others. Hope in the future she become success people. The parents so lucky have hers, and same with hers.

[@queenjadesempire1534]

She's a very pretty lady now wow! Her mum took care of her very well.

[@SharonBaxter12]

She's so pretty!!! And Bet she is a very beautiful young lady!!!

[@zaheerahmad1214]

al jazeera is very very very good channel of the world. this is a good video is guangzhou. thanks al jazeera. my stay in guangzhou 4 year.

[@juwe9516]

This is what parents suppose to offer their children. Not thinking about their friend, drink buddy, and the mother not thinking about ladies night out, binge drinking, tattoos about love they cannot dispense to their partners and offspring.This is replacing family of the old days.

[@manasnag4112]

one of the finest AJ documentary I have seen in a while. Its so amazing to see Kay Kay grew up to be this beautiful girl. Her parents did an amazing job with parenting. Would love to see a follow up on her!

[@gohjosephjeffrey6496]

A very good documentary on the prime life of Kay Kay, the Author has this much patience to document all her previous movements till adulthood. Execllent job!.

[@kathleenmorrice6701]

I am the first to go to university in my family too. I felt a lot of pressure to study something conventional that would lead to a high-paying job. I hope that Kiki has been able to follow her dreams x

[@mchobbit2951]

It's amazing how having grown up working class in a whole other country, I keep seeing stuff that reminds me of my own childhood. I always used to do what she does at 28.35!!

[@Yogirliej4dee]

Mc Hobbit it's amazing to see her love of high heel shoes and dresses stayed with her till adulthood.

[@lasagna47]

she grew up really well and pretty, inside and out.

[@howardpower]

It's amazing to see the changes in just 20 years time. Truly a developing nations. Kay kay is very cute and her laugh makes her more beautiful and extremely attractive.

[@andreahidalgo4309]

I love kay kay when she was little.

[@FisherOman2016]

Be great if a follow up on Kay Kay every couple of years. Any plans for that?

[@aabuleil]

The producer did an excellent job with this documentary. I would love to take this idea to show the world what growing up in Palestine is like Best of luck to Kay Kay and the family

[@JustinRichards]

What an fantastic journey. Congratulations for continuing to follow the family and their steady evolvement . It was wonderful to watch.

[@khadijah3519]

I LOVE Kay Kay🥰 She is so intelligent and straight forward. Send her ALL the HEELS!!!

[@momofighter3211]

I'm the same age as her but I got an older brother and a younger sister what I can say is she got more attention compared to me when I was growing up. Nice to see a perspective from a single child.

[@duenaya]

Thank you Al Jazeera! This is not the type of stories that are of much importance from a journalistic point of view; but I value this piece of work very much simply because I share so much similarities with her.

[@immabeamazing]

very interesting documentary and Kay Kay is so sweet!

[@pikakac2441]

I was born in the same city and in the same year as Kay Kay! This documentary brings back so many memories.

[@jeeklaart]

24:38 pfft i love how she says "as if" hahahahahahahaha

[@geri173]

Very lovely girl, and great movie! Greetings from Hungary! :)

[@mauricetamata4265]

Good bless kay kay and her parents and thanks for the video

[@AbdiU]

excellent documentary!

[@MaximaJ31]

I was also born in 92 in china in city of Nanning in the province next to gaungzhou. Seeing some of the images in the video really takes me back... i moved to australia in 2002. This documentary/vlog is so solid.

[@950Brandon]

同我同一年出世。細路哥時廣州真喺一直都喺度起樓。 Miss Guangzhou！

[@Yogirliej4dee]

Wow! Her dream of becoming a pretty young girl did come true and her English! I noticed her parents didn't let her watch t.v and she had an under bite. I seen that she had a cousin her age what happen to him?

[@anarchosolar]

I always thought Chinese people have problems learning English now I know that their mistakes are perfectly learned from that book !!

[@Iflie]

I'm glad her parents were kind and humble and didn't crush her confidence and personality.

[@liang8255]

So much memories, we were poor but it was so good times...

[@krollpeter]

One day Kay Kay will understand how she has been manipulated, that being rich does not means nobody can cheat you, and she will see that China by 2017 has become a nation of obedient consumers.

[@gdavid483]

I have been to China and loved it and it's people...The government of .China and the US need to be friends because the people are wonderful. I will go back to China again it was very safe in Shanghai

[@michellesong5190]

Why did I cry? This video is not that emotional... but now I see the transformation of Guangzhou...I was born a few years after she did...n I didn know what the life was like in a lower class family.. Guangzhou is one of the richest cities like Beijing n shanghai.. n I always thought everybody is rich in GZ..

[@flip1sba]

I visited Guangzhou back in the early 90s when it was still "communist". I was young back then! I would be interested to see what the city looks like now!

[@michellesong5190]

The city is beautiful right now!!! Theres a modernized part and an old part of the city and i love the combination of both

[@Yogirliej4dee]

flip1sba Kaykay was extremely lucky nothing bad happened to her when she stayed home alone!

[@wonderboy21]

I have watched this video several times and loved it. I loved this girl because she is in same age with my wife who is also from Guangzhou, We got married on June 2015. Its always amazing to go back to Guangzhou because its full with activities. The place I have been living in Finland is boring and I dream to settle down in Guangzhou so that I can be among many people what I do not find here in Finland or in Nordic countries... :)

[@rgoodwinau]

A very personal vignette recording the family's story at a unique time in the country's and the world's history. Beautifully done.

[@maxinelowe6285]

We don't realise how lucky we are until we watch some of these documentaries x

[@nickolastiguan]

GZ is my hometown, and watching this short film brought back so so much memories - 15:21 my childhood

[@francinelaurin520]

I hold high respect for Chinese generation of families who live, work, together to better the life of their adorable little one ..our French ancestors here in Canada did the same..I have heard stories of those times with much pride...moi, Canada 🇨🇦

[@jeansindhikara1823]

Such a great idea to follow one person for 20 years in a society so rapidly changing. Aljazeera, I wish the editing were better. I’d like more continuity in the storyline so that different aspects of the characters and the city were followed consistently. There seems to be so much jumping around. Those missing years between 10 and 20 left a big gap. (When did she get braces? Her teeth are beautiful!) When and why did she change her goal from teaching to banking?

[@SundaysChild1966]

Oh this movie could be so much longer, I wish it was up to date too, it's so interesting to see the changes in their lives.

[@sanidatti6638]

It really amazing to see a documentary recorded for 20yr and that arose question from my mind, is the documentary runs as a school project or her parent on their wisdom decided to document their daughter grown up life?

[@greenguitar731]

Whoever is responsible for the translations... they're a bit off

[@jessw391]

Hailey agreed

[@whatchahowsya8688]

Awesome piece! It would be awesome to hear an update from her and the family. Hopefully she is doing well and is successful!

[@elferi]

Her parents did a great job. They are as busy as we who work at the office. Busy is not the reason for spoiled kid.

[@scottgordon8902]

What a great soul.. need more humans like her

[@TimothyMoon]

Awesome documentary! What led you to take up this project and how did you find and decide to follow her?

[@patriciaorsborn7165]

The only part I did not like was when Liang was taking Kay Kay and the other girl to school and he wore a helmet but both children didn't. Back in that time period I was working as an ER RN, and we had a somewhat morbid nickname for motorcyclists who didn't wear helmets: Organ Donors!!!

[@mauricetamata7567]

God bless kay Kay's parent's thanks for the video

[@GuaNCui]

amazing! this is one of my favourite video!

[@Lonesome__Dove]

I am a huge fan of China. What a great comeback story. Love.

[@husseintoney]

What a story. Kay Kay is cute. Great doc AJE

[@CMarkem]

Amazing, watching here grow up, I am about to be 20 also! I am an American, and I think China's new generation have a a lot more openness to the world, which is good. I hope the world can get along, we are all connected one another.

[@vivianm8174]

He also filmed documentaries on many other kids, some not brought up with such a fortunate situation as Kay Kay.

[@difchiyan]

amazing video. as someone grew up in China, I like this video a lot . matter of fact, Kay Kay's considered somewhat lucky, yet a good example of China's new generation.

[@lvn968]

Lovely family, harsh life in the past, paying out now all the hard work. KayKay has a lovely personality ! I hope she's still doing well and staying strong. Be an independent thinker, foolow your own thoughts and feelings

[@themiddlekingdom9121]

When the reporter asked her....do you believe in God,....she replied......I believe in myself.....GOOD ANSWER !

[@caruzopavarotei4789]

Kay Kay RULES!!

[@MingGuoLi]

??? I speak Cantonese too. Thing is, I live in the US, and everytime I visit GZ, it feels somewhat foreign now, since Mandarin is very visible, almost to the point of dominating Cantonese. Yes, natives are still the majority, but the service jobs are taken mainly by out-of-state folks and they speak Mandarin only, so I have to speak Mandarin all the time. My poor Mandarin doesn't help in that case, only to make GZ feel more foreign.....

[@musicfeedsyoursoul8070]

Pretty ironic that at the same age where she talks about hating the Japanese, a couple shots later we see that she's got a bag with Sailor Moon characters on it.

[@fawziaabdurrahman2251]

it's unfortunate how kids are taught to hate people of certain ethnicity when they are so young. so they grow with this hatred. it happens all over the world.

[@hehe45451]

"i believe in myself" *snap snap*

[@pleasecallmedoctor]

this is great. this doco not only shows her growing up, but also shows how china has evolved into - dare i say it - a more democratic and educated nation.

[@goodgirlkay]

pleasecallmedoctor Democratic? No! Capitalistic? Yes. Kay Kay's parents were in the right place at the right time. Had they been in a rural village their story would be very different. And so would Kay Kay's.

[@Brittaniramblings]

That's just a really good and positive family! lucky girl!

[@BobSmith-iu3hx]

I have been to Guangzhou ( i.e. Canton ) several times in the last six years due my wife's family lives there. I recognize some of the places in this video like the Citic Plaza building, Guangzhou East Railway Station, Canton Tower. I think it would be interesting to meet this person, Kay Kay, The Girl from Guangzhou.

[@2828288336]

i cant wait to go back to my hometown!!! in two months

[@Amojamokashmir]

wow, amazing piece of work.

[@SABBIRSTYLE]

Just watched this documentary. Awesome. BTW KAY KAY is sooo cute :-P

[@elmatiasday]

i wonder if where is she now,,Hope Kay Kay is doing good well now.I want to hug her.😭❤

[@philipt6621]

You needn't to hesitate.Guangzhou is a good place~^^

[@gailhandschuh1138]

I fully understand that other cultures have different systems to raise children , but, I can’t ever see myself being comfortable leaving a single child at home while I go to work for hours with no supervision. I would always be concerned about emergency situations !!

[@chalkies]

Schoolkids in China still use that book to learn English!! :O:O

[@Tristar10h]

I guess I'll have to wait for another 5 years (2022, every 10 years) for the episode of this family. Wonder what's my accomplishment and this family's achievements will be?

[@verjbarjcarres6796]

To rely on one child to care for parents, grandparents & then add husband, child & in-laws to the mix! And they say women are weak!

[@texasboii586]

i wanna go guangzhou!!!!!!!!

[@sednalkram]

I wonder if "dong li" is more like "motivation" than "run" Very well done production...great family (like mine --Cantonese wife---one great daughter...)

[@evangelinewong4403]

I am so proud of you...you work so hard and did ur parents proud...if u like you can come to my country Singapore and work as a stewardess...You will enjoy it.

[@bms2070]

Awesome girl. Hope for China for the future

[@sednalkram]

She's already fluent in Cantonese and Pu tong hwa (Mandarin).