Let's imagine a developer is trying to build infrastructure, such as roads or tunnels, in a rural area. The villagers are demanding financial compensation because, they say, the project will ruin the fung shui of their homes. How does one proceed from here to satisfy both parties?

First, reputable fung shui masters should be consulted and their opinions analysed. Perhaps the roads can be diverted through another area or the shape of the roads can be modified to take into account fung shui features. The main concern would be about disruption caused to the long mai - the dragon's pulse or veins - a term referring to the meridian of energy associated with mountain ranges. Indeed, when the chi, or energy, of an environment is compromised, it can result in the vegetation changing from a healthy green to yellow.

But is disruption to fung shui justifiable grounds for financial compensation? Any change to the chi of an area is difficult to quantify immediately and may take years to become apparent. For example, it might be discovered later that the inhabitants have had a higher incidence of certain illnesses, such as cancer or heart disease. There are no machines or gauges to measure and quantify the chi of a place, so it might be hard to convince a developer that any fung shui disruption has occurred.