Chen Tianming, a 42-year-old man from southwestern China, has built a 10-storey pyramid-shaped house amidst the rubble of his demolished village. The Guizhou province, known for its breathtaking rice paddies and unique mountain landscapes, was chosen for a lucrative tourist resort project in 2018. However, Chen refused to leave his home when authorities razed most of the village after the project faltered.
A Unique Creation
Chen’s structure draws comparisons to the fantastical creations of Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki. The house features:
- Rickety staircases
- Balconies
- Other add-ons that create a labyrinthine construction site
"I started building out of practicality, trying to renovate and expand our home," Chen said in an interview on a sweltering May afternoon as he climbed ladders and ducked wooden beams in his creation.
"But then it became more of an interest and hobby that I enjoyed," he added. The higher floors where Chen sleeps sway in the wind; dozens of rope cables tether the house to the ground as if the whole structure might one day float away. Despite these precarious conditions, Chen seems determined to keep building and expanding his unusual home.
Government Response
The local government has issued multiple demolition notices but has yet to take action against Chen’s structure due to concerns about potential safety risks if they were forced into demolishing it themselves.
"I’m not afraid of being arrested or fined," said Chen defiantly as he stood on one of several makeshift balconies perched precariously high above ground level. Authorities have also been hesitant due to fears that demolishing the structure could lead to further instability in an area already prone to landslides.
"We are worried about safety risks if we were forced into demolishing it ourselves," said Liang Shengliang from the Guizhou provincial land resources department.
Community Frustration
Some residents have expressed frustration with what they see as unfair treatment by local officials, who they claim are favoring wealthy developers over ordinary people.
"It’s just not fair – we’re all suffering here while these rich developers get away scot-free," said Wang Zhiqiang, who lives nearby but lost her own property when authorities tore down her family home without compensation last year.
As tensions between residents and officials continue unabated, there is no clear end in sight for this extraordinary standoff between one man’s determination and China’s authoritarian state apparatus.
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