On the up and up

Cui Zhijun from Shanxi province spends hours dangling off skyscrapers to make a living. Photos provided to China Daily

Cui Zhijun has never been to the observation deck of the 101-story Shanghai World Financial Center or the spheres of the Oriental Pearl Tower. But everyday, he has a bird's eye view of the city.

Dubbed "Spiderman", he spends hours dangling outside skyscrapers, cleaning their windows and outer walls.

"Yes, my job is really cool," Cui says, clearly reveling in his nickname.

"I feel free and think it's fun to 'fly'," says the thin, tanned man who works eight hours a day. His deep blue jacket and trousers, plastic boots and helmet, seem like too much to wear on a sweltering day of 37 C. Rivulets of sweat stream down his face.

When he talks to China Daily at 11 am, he has just spent four hours cleaning the outer wall of a five-story factory building.

Most of the projects he takes on in the summer are low-rise buildings, as the strong reflection of the sun on high-rise windows makes it almost impossible for cleaners to complete the job.

"I came to Shanghai six years ago. At that time, I was looking for something exciting, so I chose to be Spiderman," says the 26-year-old.

"To tell the truth, it takes time to rid oneself of fear when dangling in the air. The first couple of months, I dared not look down," he says.

"But when I got used to the job, I started to enjoy the view and the bustling streets. Everything was just amazing," he says.

Cui cannot recall how many buildings he has cleaned over the past six years, but he does remember clearly the deadly situation he once found himself in, three years ago.

While cleaning high-rises, Cui is entirely dependent on two ropes, a main rope and a supporting one.

"I was working on the 33rd floor of a 36-story building. As I was cleaning the windows, the main rope suddenly snapped," he recalls.

"Can you imagine the situation? My mind just went blank," he says. "Luckily, the supporting line saved me. After that, I always double check the ropes before I start my work."

His boss Duan Chunxue, manager of Shanghai Lanmiao Cleaning Service Company, says, "Cui is a good employee. He is punctual and works hard.

"He has an outgoing personality and his optimism is infectious."

Cui says his job is not as dangerous as people might imagine. He also feels his income adequately compensates for the potential danger.

He earns 6,000 yuan ($939) after tax on average each month, which includes a subsidy of 17 yuan each day for outdoor work in the summer, which is much higher than what other migrant workers earn.

Sometimes Cui can make 8,000 yuan a month, as he is paid according to the number of actual days worked.

"When I started the job six years ago, I was paid just 45 yuan a day, so I'm quite satisfied with my earnings now. Fellow villagers, who work in factories or construction sites, can only make some 2,000 yuan each month," he says.

However, Cui's wife often tries to persuade him to find some other job.

"After all, it is dangerous to work in the air," he says. "But currently I don't want to quit."

Cui has a 5-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl, who live with his parents in their hometown in Shanxi province.

His wife is in Shanghai with him and works in an auto parts factory.

"I have to work here to earn more money to support the family, although I do miss my kids a lot," he says.

He looks forward to them joining him in September.

"I think my savings are enough to support them in Shanghai now. I hope they can go to school here.

"If they are better educated, they will be able to find better jobs in the future," he says.