Strife on the streets

After spending 11 years living on the streets, Ma Long's life was finally turned around this year - by a hot shower.

The 21-year-old decided last March to visit a free facility in Shanghai for the homeless.

"They welcomed me as a guest," said Ma, who originally hails from the Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Gansu province. "I had a shower and they gave me clean clothes to wear. I felt so at home. I stayed afterwards and talked with the volunteers who ran the place."