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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.