Single China mum carries steel tubes to fund education, weeps as daughter aces gaokao

July 2, 2026 - 08:00

A single mother in China who hauled heavy steel tubes at construction sites to fund her daughter's education broke down in tears after learning the teenager aced the grueling national college entrance exam, known as the gaokao.

Zou, whose full name was not disclosed, has worked for years as a laborer, carrying steel pipes and other materials on building projects. She said her daughter promised to study hard while Zou toiled under harsh conditions. The mother's emotional reaction was captured on video and widely shared on Chinese social media, showing her sobbing as she received the news of her daughter's high score.

The gaokao, a rigorous two-day test, determines university admissions and is often seen as a life-changing opportunity for students from low-income families. For Zou, the result was the payoff of years of sacrifice. "I wanted to give her a better future," she said in an interview. "I never regretted the hard work."

The story has resonated with many in China, highlighting the struggles of migrant workers who leave rural areas to support their children's education. Zou's daughter is now expected to attend a top university, a milestone that the mother says makes every aching muscle worth it.