The birth of Perth-based photographer Tami Xiang in the 1980s bankrupted her family in China.

As the fourth born in the family, Tami's arrival under the one-child policy led to a fine that not only ran their finances dry but also left a huge debt her father, the family's breadwinner, had to work for years to pay off.

"I rarely saw my father when I was little but I was lucky to have my mother around all the time," Tami said.

Her father was a bricklayer who was away most of the time building bridges and houses, while Tami and her siblings were left at home in their mother's hands.

Many children in rural China share a similar experience to Tami.

Peasantography is Tami Xiang's visual documentary of China's "left-behind" generation. ( Supplied: Tami Xiang )

The sheer number of children growing up with either one parent or under the guardianship of their grandparents is so big in China the group has been dubbed "the left-behind".

According to Government estimates, as of 2018 China had nearly 7 million children "left behind" in rural areas while both parents worked in big cities to support the family.

The rural-urban wealth divide and the rigid household registration policy, which limits the free migration of the population in China, have given rise to the phenomenon.

As of 2018, it was estimated China had nearly 7 million children "left behind" in rural areas. ( Supplied: Tami Xiang )

'They care too much about money'

Over the past decade, Tami has photographed more than 300 "left-behind" children and their families in rural China for her work Peasantography, a visual documentary of the "left-behind" generation.

Jie Fei, 22, was one of the children featured in Xiang's project. He told the ABC he now rarely contacts his parents.

"We haven't spoken much for many years. We started to quarrel whenever we tried to talk to each other, so we just gave up on talking if [there was] nothing important," he said.

"I know many people are in a similar position with me, with parents working away and being brought up by grandparents.

"But what I can't let go of is parents of others at least come back home every Spring Festival. My parents haven't come back for 10 years. They care too much about money."

The rural-urban wealth divide is a key contributor to the "left-behind" phenomenon. ( Supplied: Tami Xiang )

Mr Jie's mother, Wu Fen, is now close to retiring from her job at a steel mill in Zhuhai, Guangdong province.

"I don't have a long break during Spring Festival in our factory. The production doesn't stop. I'm too busy and tired," said Ms Wu, explaining why she doesn't go home during the break.

"I took care of my child until he was 12 before I went to Zhuhai. It felt difficult to part with him. He had to attend school in our hometown and we were quite poor at that time.

"He also doesn't like it here [in Guangdong]. We asked him to come over for Spring Festival, he said he's busy."

It's believed being "left behind" often hinders the development of children. ( Supplied: Tami Xiang )

The Spring Festival, which falls on January 25 this year, is the most widely celebrated festival in China and considered an important occasion for families to get together.

Many parents of the "left-behind" go home to join their family. It is estimated that over 3 billion people are expected to travel between January 10 and February 28.

Peasantography documents 'left behind' generation

Tami Xiang's work being exhibited in Perth. ( Supplied: Tami Xiang )

Wei Jiayu, director of New Citizen Project, an NGO which aims to improve the living environment for migrant children who move with their parents to the big cities, said one key reason children were "left behind" was because they were unable to get enrolled in public schools in the cities.

Private schools were usually also not an option because families did not have enough money to pay the tuition fees.

"Being 'left behind' will lead to a lack of companionship which is going to hinder children's psychological development," Mr Wei said.

"After they grow up, they will have a stronger need for intimate relationships. Also, their insecurity will make them have little trust in others."

Tami Xiang and one of the "left-behind" children she photographed. ( Supplied: Tami Xiang )

Tami Xiang came to Australia in 2011 as an interpreter working for a mining company in Perth and started her study of photography soon after.

She used to think being "left behind" was nothing special until she was struck by the contrast once she started working as a family portrait photographer in Perth and saw what typical Australian families were like.

Tami said she believed children growing up "left behind" suffered a series of problems such as "educational, mental health, safety and social" issues and she intended to raise greater awareness of their plight with her work.

"They were brought up by grandparents who [themselves] received little education and had to quickly fit into the fast-developing modern society once they grew up," Tami said.