In Guangzhou, the Baixiaho Street in Xiamao Village recently witnessed another round of land expropriation conflict. A large number of police officers carrying shields were deployed to the construction site of the Baixiaho Creative Park, blocking the entrance and shouting, “Do not approach the construction site, obstructing destruction will be strictly punished by law,” triggering resistance from the villagers. In the midst of pushing and shoving, some villagers became emotional, shouting, “They have guns, we are afraid of death!” The scene descended into chaos for a time.
According to several villagers, the construction party had forcibly entered the site for demolition as early as June 16 without showing proper approval, leading to consecutive protests and conflicts. Villagers criticized the compensation standards as far below market prices, with the lowest being only 3,120 yuan per square meter, which they found unacceptable.
Videos shared by villagers on social media showed dozens of police officers facing off against villagers in front of the Baixiaho Creative Park gate. The police continuously warned the villagers not to approach using small loudspeakers, threatening “strict punishment according to the law.” Villagers accused the government of “illegal demolition” and urged everyone to “unite and resist, not fight separately.”
On June 10, the Xiamao Urban Village Transformation Command Office issued a notice requiring villagers to move out of Block 2 by June 30 and Block 9 by July 30 to accelerate the construction of replacement houses. However, villagers refused to cooperate, questioning the unclear resettlement policies and low compensation standards.
Mr. Ye, one of the protesting villagers, told a reporter, “My family has been living in self-built houses in the area for many years, and we also run small businesses. The government offers a fixed compensation based on the structure, with 3,120 yuan per square meter for brick and wood structures, and 3,600 yuan for framed structures. It sounds like there are relocation incentives and resettlement subsidies, but the crucial price has not changed at all.”
He expressed frustration, saying, “Look at the current housing prices, it’s at least 6,000 to 7,000 yuan per square meter, and even higher for better quality. They’re compensating us around 3,000 yuan, where can we buy a house with that? Besides, our whole extended family has been living here for generations, we are used to the lifestyle here, and we have businesses to run, where are we supposed to go?”
Many other villagers shared similar sentiments. Mr. Chen said, “We are not against the government’s renovation, but against them coming to demolish without proper negotiation. Our ancestral homes are being demolished without discussion or consensus. We are not causing trouble, we are defending our basic rights.”
On June 9, the Baiyun District Government announced the “Xiamao Village Land Acquisition and Compensation Resettlement Plan,” stating that it will be implemented in accordance with the national Land Management Law and local expropriation regulations. The compensation will comprise resettlement houses, monetary compensation, “reserved land” resettlement, and allows villagers to file objections, arbitration, or hearings.
Under the plan, housing compensation is divided into three categories: 3,600 yuan per square meter for framed structures, 3,360 yuan for mixed structures, and 3,120 yuan for brick and wood structures. The collective land compensation standard is 58,500 yuan per mu, in addition to 44,600 yuan per mu for old-age security funds deposited into the village fund.
However, many villagers are skeptical of the “reserved land” policy, considering it difficult to realize and prolonged. Mr. Ye said, “Talking about reserved land, who knows when it will be fulfilled? No sign of houses being built, money not in the account. Now the government itself has no money, are we supposed to wait for them to sell the houses to receive our compensation? We cannot afford to wait this long.”
When reporters called the Urban Village Transformation Command Office, a staff member responded that the land expropriation and relocation “have legal documents and follow procedures,” and stated that Baiyun District had set up a coordination office to accept villagers’ housing materials submissions. The coordination period is from June 23 to July 23. During this time, evaluations, hearings, or legal actions can be requested.
A lawyer in Guangzhou, Mr. Liu, who declined to be named, believes that if villagers have legitimate property rights, they may negotiate for higher compensation through legal assessment. However, if the houses are illegal constructions or lack permits, the space for compensation is limited. He told reporters that some villagers have collectively commissioned law firms to represent them in lawsuits, while others seek attention through social media platforms. “But to be honest, local Guangzhou media are hesitant to cover such demolition and relocation matters, much of the news has to come from the villagers themselves.”
As of now, the protest at Xiamao Village has been ongoing for 10 days. Legal professionals suggest that villagers should actively request on-site assessments, negotiate compensation based on actual conditions rather than fixed unit prices. If negotiations fail, they can initiate administrative hearings or lawsuits to protect their rights in accordance with the law.