A coal mine factory in Hegang, in China’s northeastern Heilongjiang province. The rust-belt town has been hit by a declining population as government revenues dry up, which some see as a bad omen for other areas of the country. Photo: Wendy Wu
Opinion
Opinion
A town in China’s rust belt offers a cautionary tale of development ambition
- Hegang has lost nearly a fifth of its population in 10 years, and government revenues have dried up while many flats for sale sit empty
- Other cities hoping to avoid Hegang’s fate require an approach to development that looks beyond property and infrastructure
A coal mine factory in Hegang, in China’s northeastern Heilongjiang province. The rust-belt town has been hit by a declining population as government revenues dry up, which some see as a bad omen for other areas of the country. Photo: Wendy Wu
