In Henan’s Mizhiang County, Zhangpu Village, Yangjiaji Town, villagers have been gathering on Houbi Mountain for several days, protesting against the local government’s construction of a crematorium without the villagers’ knowledge. The construction site is only a few hundred meters away from the village, sparking opposition from all villagers.
The villagers’ protest activities have received support from various sectors, with many materials provided free of charge. Villagers have been guarding the site for nearly a week. In the early morning of July 28, a large number of unidentified individuals attacked, stealing all the materials and arresting some villagers.
According to reports from the Chinese official media, the crematorium project in Yangjiaji Town was approved in 2023, originally scheduled to commence this October. However, villagers claim they were unaware of the construction plans for the crematorium, which is located dangerously close to the village at a distance of only 380 meters. Officials from Yangjiaji Town government stated that the project was initiated by the county government, with all necessary procedures approved. Personnel from the Emergency Management Department of Henan Province have stated that the crematorium project is progressing and communication and explanation with villagers are underway.
Local villager Yang Cheng (alias) told Epoch Times, “The crematorium planned to be built on Houbi Mountain by the county is too close to the village. Villagers were unaware at first. It wasn’t until we saw excavators, trucks, and construction vehicles heading up the mountain that we realized it was for the crematorium. Over a thousand villagers, regardless of the scorching 40-degree Celsius heat, have been standing guard at the site day and night to prevent construction, and they have been persisting for over a week. Many kind-hearted people have donated mineral water, watermelons, instant noodles, tents, and other supplies.”
“On the daytime of the 27th, plainclothes police officers even arrested a woman, a mother of three, but she was later released after the incident was circulated on social media. During the night of the 27th, the items donated by kind-hearted individuals were attacked, with all supplies taken away, including pots. ” Yang Cheng said.
Yang Cheng further stated, “On the morning of the 28th, the road leading up the mountain was blocked, preventing vehicles from accessing the area. The road was even dug up. Many vehicles were stuck at the roadblock, and they were not police vehicles. It seemed like private vehicles blocking the road. These people were not in police uniforms but plainclothes. Since there is no network signal on the mountain, some villagers are unaware that they can no longer access the mountain, while others have taken detours to climb the mountain.”
Liu Wei expressed, “Rural cremation is the same as burial, except that after cremation, a cremation urn needs to be purchased, placed inside a larger coffin, and then buried, which is similar to burial but requires additional expenses, primarily for the cremation process.”
This situation is not unique to Henan, as similar cases have been reported in other regions as well. In 2014, in Huazhou City, Guangdong Province, a crematorium was planned near a water source, with over 500 villagers opposing the project, ultimately leading to the project’s suspension.
In Shicheng Village, Changle, Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, the planned cemetery site is only 500 meters away from a kindergarten, with 95% of villagers jointly opposing the construction at the windward location, fearing contamination of water wells.
In Loudi City, Hunan Province, the funeral home is less than 10 meters away from residential areas, with funeral drums and firecrackers sounding throughout the night, making it difficult for residents to sleep, and emitting unpleasant odors during the day, causing great distress.