 Finally , the film illustrates the growing urban – rural divide in China . When Wei reaches Zhangjiakou , the film creates a clear contrast between urban and rural life , and the two locations are physically separated by a dark tunnel . The city is not portrayed as idyllic ; rather , Zhang shows that rural people are faced with difficulties and discrimination in the cities . While Wei 's first view of the city exposes her to well @-@ dressed people and modern buildings , the living quarters she goes to while searching for Zhang Huike are cramped and squalid . Likewise , the iron gate where Wei waits all day for the TV station director reflects the barriers poor people face to survival in the city , and the necessity of connections to avoid becoming an " outsider " in the city . Frequent cuts show Wei and Zhang wandering aimlessly in the streets , Zhang begging for food , and Wei sleeping on the sidewalk ; when an enthusiastic TV host later asks Zhang what part of the city left the biggest impression , Zhang replies that the one thing he will never forget is having to beg for food . A.O. Scott of The New York Times compared the " unbearable " despair of the film 's second half to that of Vittorio De Sica 's 1948 Bicycle Thieves . 
