A stooper picks up a bag and takes the photo to post on her social media. By interacting in online stooping communities, young people in Shanghai are enjoying a sense of belonging and bonding with others. Photo: Caixin

Passersby looking at an abandoned chair in the street. Photo: Caixin

A porcelain vessel is left out under a tree on a street in Shanghai. Photo: Caixin

The most concentrated area of stoopers in Shanghai lies near the intersection of Julu Road and Anfu Road, where there’s no central garbage station in the nearby old residential areas, so residents discard garbage and unwanted furniture on the street. Photo: Caixin

Blogger “Mikiko in Shanghai” was one of the first people to introduce stooping to online communities in China. In her apartment, she has set up a corner of the staircase to store items she picked up through stooping. Photo: Caixin

Reclaimed items are stocked in Mikiko’s apartment. Photo: Caixin

The glasses and garden tools stooped by Mikiko are cleaned and placed carefully in a drawer. Photo: Caixin

Decorations like Christmas wreaths hang on the walls of Mikiko’s apartment. Photo: Caixin

Another stooper Xingyue brought home two abstract paintings that were discarded next to a pile of sand outside a store being renovated. Photo: Caixin

Xingyue became fascinated by stooping the moment she saw the tag on social media platforms. She made it one of her hobbies, picking up things like toys and furniture on her way home. Photo: Caixin

Aside from the young stoopers, older scavengers and sanitation workers on the street deal with trash and dumped items to make a living in the early morning. Photo: Caixin