This is one of my favourite photos from all the ones I  took in China, this elderly gentleman had a quiet dignity in his manner that just cannot be imitated. 

 I was standing on a pedestrian highway overpass in Chengdu and didn't notice him arrive and set up just behind me.  There were quite a few young people  (late teens) approaching from the opposite direction when I noticed him quietly sitting in place.  As I waited  for them to pass I was surprised to see them all drop something into his box.  In China the younger generation are expected to look after their parents in their later years as a mark of respect and this respect appeared to extend to any elderly person in need. After he received a donation he thanked the person then reached into the box but did not take anything out. Later when I was leaving and left my donation I realised he was placing a small stone on top of the notes so they didn't blow out.  I don't think he even realised that I had taken a photo of him.

Later during our tour I  asked our guide about the welfare system in China for the elderly and she said that some of them did receive a pension, but only if they had been employed for a certain number of years at a specific job classification.