LEAVING THE LAND PART IV: MODEL TOWN OF HUAMINGZHEN

In part 4 of a series on urbanization in China that I’ve been doing for the New York Times, I look at the model town of Huamingzhen, which was featured in the 2010 Shanghai Expo as a win-win situation for farmers and developers. The place isn’t a classic slum, but jobs are few and construction quality is terrible. I wonder what these places will look like in twenty years? Story accessible here. Note: partial paywall.