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Cement tower home to 50 families
By Jia Xu (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-03-30 17:29
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 Overview of an abandoned chimney in an industrial area in Hefei, capital of Central China's Anhui province, March 29, 2010.[Photo/Xinhua] |
Looking at the scruffy industrial 20-metre-high tower, it's hard to imagine anyone calls this home. But for years, some decades, the cement dump has been home to more than 50 families. The dwellers are laid-off workers, retired, elderly and migrants who came to Hefei, capital city of Central China's Anhui province for a better life. Most choose to live here due to the low cost.
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 Chen Tinglin (C), 70, prepares a meal with her daughter-in-law (L) in a simple kitchen in a 20-square-meter room beneath the tower in Hefei, capital of Central China's Anhui province, March 29, 2011. The boy (R) is Chen's grandson who has lived with her since he was born.[Photo/Xinhua] |
Chen Tinglin, 70, a retired worker has lived in a 20-square meter shabby room beneath the tower for more than ten years with her husband, son, daughter-in-law and grandson. Because of a limited income, her son cannot afford to buy a proper house in the capital city for his family as the real-estate market in second-tier cities has surged during the past years, Chen said. Families like them are a common sight under the cement dump tower. Meng Xiancheng and his daughter live a similar life to Chen.
Despite the ghastly conditions residents remain optimistic. Some grow vegetables in empty spaces, others create innovative ways to make the best use of the crowded conditions.
 Wang Qifeng, a laid-off worker plants vegetables near her shabby house in the tower in Hefei, capital of Central China's Anhui province, March 29, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua] |
The Hefei municipal authority plans to build 1.21 million square meter subsidized housing for low-income families this year. Chen said, "I am happy to hear the subsidized housing plan, and our family is counting on it."