While the rest of the world watches in awe at the sight of millions of Hong Kongers protesting against an extradition bill and demanding greater political freedom, a different protest erupted in Wuhan, in the heartland of mainland China.
Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province, is the seventh-largest city in China, with 10 million residents. Sitting on the bank of Yangtze River, it has long served as an important harbor, a commercial and industrial center in central China. Wuhan is known for its hot weather, hot food, and hot-tempered (but talented) people.
It’s the hometown of tennis star Li Na, who won the 2011 French Open, and Fu Mingxia, who probably is still the most decorated diver in Olympic history. Since I spent part of my youth there, I call it my hometown too.
Starting on June 28, thousands of people in Yangluo, a suburb of Wuhan—and only 18 miles from downtown and a designated economic and technology development zone—have been protesting a proposed waste incineration plant in their neighborhood. They have every reason to be angry. Their city used to be a beautiful place with hundreds of picturesque lakes. Relaxed seniors could often be seen practicing Taiji near waving willow trees at the lakeside.
Now, most lakes are gone, replaced by factories, high-rise apartment buildings, and landfills for garbage. People have lived with smog and terrible smells for years. Seniors can’t do their morning exercises, and parents won’t let their children play outside. People complain that they can smell the terrible smell from the landfill several miles away. Residents keep their windows shut all year round, in a futile effort to keep the disgusting smell out.
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