Inside a once wealthy 'urban village'

Editor's note: Xian Village, a district in downtown Guangzhou, China's third largest city, caught the public's attention recently when seven of the village leaders were sentenced to up to four years in prison on Dec. 10. The seven people, all from the same family and all in charge of village affairs, were convicted of taking bribes to influence the process of the village's demolition and relocation.

The village was among the earliest districts to undergo renovation and demolition during China's urbanization process. Part of the village began to be renovated as early as 1985, and the upscale Central Business District of the city was built on it. The village was once called the richest village in Guangdong Province as a result of the benefits received from the selling and leasing of land.

But the demolition halted when villagers accused the village leaders of corruption and called for them to disclose land use plans in 2009. Now, some of the houses and buildings in the village are still half-dismantled and abandoned.

A woman sits by a pond in Xian Village. Across the pond are a number of high-rise buildings. Some villagers often sit by the pond to make phone calls since the phone reception inside the village is poor. [Photo/CFP]