Yudron is pictured in a village of Nyarixung Township in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 17, 2025. Yudron, a former serf who was born in 1938, lives in a village of Nyarixung Township of Xigaze.
"I suffered from hunger and wore clothes patched over patches in my childhood. When we farmed for the serf owners, the labor work relied completely on ourselves as we were not allowed to use the livestock. After working for a whole day, we returned with empty stomachs," Yudron recalled. "After harvesting the barley, the serf owners would seal up the grain, leaving only a small portion of it as our food, which was not enough at all. For survival, we had to do additional work for others at night time in exchange for more food."
In March 1959, people in Xizang launched the democratic reform that ended the region's feudal serfdom. Yudron became the master of her life. She joined the Communist Party of China, visited Beijing, and once served as heads of village and township.
Nowadays, Yudron lives with family members of four generations in a spacious new house. Though she is nearly 90 years old, she takes care of her plants with joy every day.
"In old Xizang, I lived with livestock in a downstair room of the serf owner' house. The space was cramped and low and I couldn't even stand straight in it. As a young woman at that time, the firm and spacious house I live in now was way beyond my dream. Our entire family feel extremely happy here now," Yudron said with a smile. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)
Granddaughter-in-law Cering Zhoima (L) serves a cup of butter tea to Yudron in a village of Nyarixung Township of Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 17, 2025. Yudron, a former serf who was born in 1938, lives in a village of Nyarixung Township of Xigaze. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)
Yudron waters her plants at home in a village of Nyarixung Township of Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 17, 2025. Yudron, a former serf who was born in 1938, lives in a village of Nyarixung Township of Xigaze. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)
Yudron is pictured in a village of Nyarixung Township in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 17, 2025. Yudron, a former serf who was born in 1938, lives in a village of Nyarixung Township of Xigaze. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)
Yudron (2nd L) poses for photos with her grandson Norbu Cering (1st L), granddaughter-in-law Cering Zhoima (1st R) and great-grandson Norbu Sangzhub at their home in a village of Nyarixung Township of Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 17, 2025. Yudron, a former serf who was born in 1938, lives in a village of Nyarixung Township of Xigaze. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)
