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Opulent Offices Trigger Debate, Anger in Rural China

The palatial offices of the Huiji district government and Communist party in Henan province. The silver dome is a conference center.
Louisa Lim, NPR
The palatial offices of the Huiji district government and Communist party in Henan province. The silver dome is a conference center.

Just how swanky does your office need to be? That's a loaded question in parts of China, where some district governments have built huge, palatial headquarters next to the small, rural villages they govern.

There has long been unrest in China over waste and mismanagement in local government. But as the country's economy has expanded, the problem only seems to get worse.

In Huiji district, on the outskirts of Henan province's capital Zhengzhou, extravagant offices were built two years ago. And they're still provoking debate -- and anger -- among local residents.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Beijing Correspondent Louisa Lim is currently attending the University of Michigan as a Knight-Wallace Fellow. She will return to her regular role in 2014.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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