Coal picking

The collection of small pieces of coal and semi-coal from the waste material has been developed into a highly organised activity on the Xinghua colliery tips. Every trainload of material is sifted by the picking gangs who operate not only on the level summit area but also on the steep and dangerous slope on the other side of the tracks. There was a constant stream of people wheeling away sacks of material balanced on the crossbar of their bicycles.