Gao Jin, an only child, takes his aging parents to the zoo in Jinan, East China’s Shandong province, on May 11 ahead of Mother’s Day. To better control two wheelchairs at once, he pulls his mother’s chair behind him with a rope. Photo: Zhang Ruixue/Caixin

Gao struggles to control the two wheelchairs in front of him. A year and a half ago, he became the sole caregiver of his ailing parents. Over the course of a year caring for them, he lost 10 kilograms (22 pounds). Photo: Zhang Ruixue/Caixin

Gao works hard to push his father up a steep incline while pulling his mother behind him. Despite his parents’ lack of mobility, they refuse to live in a nursing home. Photo: Zhang Ruixue/Caixin

Gao’s parents sit in front of the hippopotamus enclosure at the zoo. To take care of his parents in Jinan, he had to leave his job in Beijing. Photo: Zhang Ruixue/Caixin

Because of a barrier on the sidewalk, Gao has no choice but to lift his parents out of their wheelchairs and carry them past the obstacle, before coming back to retrieve their chairs. Photo: Zhang Ruixue/Caixin

Gao arrives early to the food stall he opened to try to earn a living while taking care of his parents. Photo: Zhang Ruixue/Caixin

Gao’s parents join him as he sells food from his stall. Photo: Zhang Ruixue/Caixin

As soon as it gets dark, Gao’s parents start asking him to go home. Even though business is slow, Gao doesn’t close up until after 9 o’clock. By the time they return to their suburban home, it’s already past 11 p.m. Photo: Zhang Ruixue/Caixin

As night falls, Gao sits down for a cold meal. It has become harder for him to eat or sleep well since he started running the stall. Photo: Zhang Ruixin/Caixin

Gao, who is also a single father, enjoys some rare quality time with his parents. Gao’s son is in his final year of high school. Photo: Zhang Ruixue/Caixin

Gao’s mother uses an electronic device to help her maintain movement in her fingers. Photo: Zhang Ruixue/Caixin

Gao helps his father shave. Since his father developed health problems, he has had trouble speaking, leaving Gao to often guess about what he needs. Photo: Zhang Ruixue/Caixin

A painting created by an online well-wisher who heard Gao’s story sits in his home. Photo: Zhang Ruixue/Caixin