Authorities and police appear determined to seal off Zhentou from the outside world, ensuring the only story that gets out is the government version.
The town of 55,000 residents in the northeast of Hunan province attracted national media attention after villagers organised several protests to draw attention to pollution from a chemicals factory that officials admit was responsible for killing seven people and affecting hundreds more.
Hong Kong media first set foot in Zhentou in July, and it seems the authorities have learned how to handle the media.
Journalists investigating the story this month faced numerous obstacles and had difficulty approaching villagers for interviews or getting to the factory.
Although cadres warned villagers not to talk to journalists and threatened that the meeting would be illegal, the residents were desperate for help.
The bad news came as soon as I arrived with a photographer at the airport in Changsha - a text message on my mobile phone said the car that villagers had arranged to pick us up had been taken by the township's police.
We had to change out plans and rent a taxi to another town, where we could meet village representatives. Driving in circles for two hours, four representatives finally appeared in front of us - driving motorcycles in the cold rain.