Beijing is toying with the idea of closing off those villages where most residents are migrant laborers. The gated and walled-in communities will be open from 6am until 11pm. People will be able leave during other times only in extraordinary circumstances.

According to Daxing police who are running a pilot project, they and other local government departments will jointly build walls, gates, guard posts and close rarely used roads, to turn the villages into walled-in communities.

The police have been concerned about security issues. It's understandable for them to step up patrols and surveillance cameras in the areas of the city known for high crime rates, but closing off the villages is an unwise move.