The headquarters project of the Chancheng District People’s Hospital in Foshan City, with a total investment of about 2.6 billion yuan (RMB), has reportedly come to a halt after the main structure was completed. Media reporters found no signs of construction activity on site during a visit, and the authorities even initiated a public opinion survey on whether the project has been suspended. This incident has sparked widespread attention in society, with some expressing regret while others questioning the decision-making and funding allocation.
According to reports from online platforms like Zhongjin Online and Leju Purchasing a Home, on September 15th, journalists observed an empty construction site at the Chancheng People’s Hospital surrounding area. Despite the main structure being completed, only a small portion of the glass curtain wall has been installed, and the project progress has visibly stalled. Sources disclosed that construction was halted shortly after the structure was topped out.
Multiple on-site photos show that while the hospital building’s framework has been finished, the outer walls have not been enclosed, and a sign reading “Construction site under delay, no entry allowed” stands at the entrance. Some residents have reported encounters with workers claiming to be conducting surveys commissioned by the authorities, inquiring about the potential impacts and opinions if the headquarters construction remains suspended.
A staff member from a ceramic company in Foshan, Mr. Chen (requested anonymity due to work reasons), confirmed to reporters on September 18th that the Chancheng People’s Hospital does indeed face a work stoppage. He stated, “I passed by a few days ago and saw that the hospital had been topped out, but interior and exterior decoration had yet to begin, likely due to funding issues.”
Following the exposure of the suspension of the construction of the Chancheng District People’s Hospital headquarters project in Foshan, public opinion has been diverse. Some express dismay, saying, “A 26 billion yuan investment should not be abandoned midway.” Others question the prudence of the planning decisions, criticizing the authorities for embarking on such a massive project despite existing medical resources lying idle. Many are concerned about the flow of funds, worrying about whether public finances can bear such high and repetitive construction costs.
According to Leju Purchasing a Home, the supervisory department is facing financial pressures, with local expenditures generally restricted under the influence of the macro environment. Meanwhile, the Green Island Lake campus of the Second People’s Hospital in Foshan was recently put into operation, yet there are still numerous vacant consultation rooms, indicating that the hospital can already meet current demands. In this context, whether the headquarters project will continue to progress has naturally become a focal point of societal discussion.
Official data shows that the Chancheng People’s Hospital headquarters project commenced on February 26, 2022, located in the Fengxiangwan area of Nanzhuang Town. This project, designated as a key construction at the city and district levels, is positioned as a Grade 3 Class A comprehensive hospital. It covers an area of approximately 31,500 square meters, with a total construction area of around 210,000 square meters, planning for 1000 beds, including 200 convertible isolation beds for pandemic preparedness. Initially meant to fill the gap in Grade 3 hospitals in the western part of Chancheng and enhance public health emergency response capabilities.
The project’s topping-out was completed in May 2024, with the original plan aiming for completion in 2025 and opening in 2026. However, it is currently at a standstill, casting a shadow over its future.
A delivery shop worker in Foshan, Mr. Li, informed reporters that they had long noticed the halt at the construction site: “The crane isn’t moving, and the workers are nowhere to be seen; we suspect it might not proceed any further.” Some fear that the project might end up as an abandoned building, resulting in wasted funds and delaying improvements to public healthcare resources.
Foshan, with an economy ranking third in Guangdong province after Guangzhou and Shenzhen, has also faced contraction pressures in recent years. Infrastructure investment and public fiscal spending have shown signs of tightening. In 2022, Foshan’s government fund budget revenues notably decreased, with support for major infrastructure projects declining year-on-year. The 2024 government work report further emphasized the need for “finer public spending, optimized structure.”
Scholar Li Lang pointed out that these trends indicate that Foshan is increasingly considering fund allocation and sustainability when advancing large-scale public projects. He stated, “Even houses in Foshan are not selling well nowadays. The property market is not as prosperous as before the epidemic, with many new properties piling up. In August, the average housing prices in various districts of Foshan varied significantly, with Nanhai District at approximately 16,000 yuan per square meter, a 2.61% decrease compared to the previous period; second-hand housing prices range from 10,000 to 13,000 yuan per square meter, showing a larger decline. Property transactions have decreased, leading to a drop in government tax revenue as well.”
Public data from the Foshan Municipal Finance Bureau shows that in 2024, the total annual general public budget revenue was 76.708 billion yuan, a 4.17% decrease year-on-year, with tax revenue amounting to 43.905 billion yuan, a decrease of about 5.4% from the previous year.