Aside from criticizing “weird architecture,” the new Chinese urban planning directives issued by the Communist Party and state authorities on Feb. 21 are taking aim at much more ubiquitous and crucial aspect of the Chinese cityscape.
Housing communities currently closed off to motor vehicles will be gradually opened up to make way for a city block system, the directives say.
Inundating Chinese social media such as Sina Weibo are floods of angry responses to the proposed block system. Internet users worry about the safety of allowing traffic in densely-populated areas, as well as increasing air and noise pollution.
According to a survey conducted by Sina Corp., an online Chinese media outlet, over three-quarters of about 8,000 respondents were opposed to the new zoning directives. Over 85 percent agreed that homeowners should be compensated if the communities are opened to traffic.
