The Wall Street Journal - Why Chinese President Xi’s $93B Personal Megacity Remains Empty | WSJ
Xiongan, located 60 miles from Beijing, is a planned city built to reduce the overcrowding in the capital. It is a $93 billion project, designed to demonstrate China's technological and urban development capabilities. The city, which was once farmland, now features thousands of buildings, including residential areas, office complexes, and a massive train station. Despite its completion date set for 2035, parts of the city are already finished, though it remains largely uninhabited. The project is closely tied to Xi Jinping's legacy, with significant resources allocated to protect it from natural disasters, such as the 2023 floods that affected nearby areas. Xiongan is intended to become a hub for tech and space industries, with strict controls on home prices to prevent speculation. However, the city struggles to attract residents, with many current inhabitants being relocated locals from demolished villages. The success of Xiongan is uncertain, as it faces challenges like economic slowdown and population decline, contrasting with the growth seen in Shenzhen during China's economic opening.
Key Points:
- Xiongan aims to ease Beijing's congestion and showcase China's urban progress.
- The project costs $93 billion and is planned to be completed by 2035.
- Despite significant construction, the city remains largely uninhabited.
- Xiongan is intended as a tech and space industry hub with controlled housing prices.
- The project's success is uncertain amid economic and demographic challenges.
Details:
1. 🚧 Xiongan: Vision and Construction
1.1. Introduction to Xiongan Megaproject
1.2. Construction Details and Milestones
1.3. Current Status and Challenges
2. 🌊 Controversy and Public Response
- A multi-billion dollar project is closely tied to Xi Jinping's personal investment, emphasizing the use of his ideology to unite and motivate people.
- The project aims to manage floodwaters, especially important given China's historical challenges with flooding.
- In 2023, floodwaters were deliberately diverted to protect the sparsely populated area of Xiongan, designated as a high-priority site by the government, highlighting its strategic importance.
- This diversion led to significant flooding in neighboring cities and villages, sparking public outrage and protests, demonstrating the tension between governmental priorities and local welfare.
- Social media videos captured rare instances of public dissent, with protestors claiming the flooding was due to redirected waters rather than natural rainfall events, emphasizing the perceived mismanagement.
- The government's response to the protests was to reinforce the necessity of protecting strategic sites like Xiongan, downplaying the impact on surrounding areas.