China has bulldozed hundreds of mountains to build new cities, despite protests from scientists wary of air and water pollution, soil erosion and geological hazards.
On a level unprecedented anywhere in the world, China has leveled hundreds of mountains in the last ten years and filled valleys with the resulting landfill to make flatlands suitable for city development. This project became the cities of Chongqing, Shiyan, Yichang, Lanzhou, and Yan'an. The latter started doubling its area by leveling another 78.5 square kilometers of mountains.
The city of Lanzhou in Gansu province bulldozed more than 700 mountains. It was the largest project of its kind, both in China and worldwide. Chinese authorities said the move would produce 250 square kilometers of flat land.
Around 270 million Chinese lived in mountainous areas. The country's officials built cities to house China's 1.351 billion citizens, but there was simply not enough flat land for city living. Chinese leadership then decided to bulldoze mountains to resolve the insufficient land issue.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, bulldozing hundreds of mountains offered two benefits. First, it solved the problem of urban living. Second, it freed the lowlands for agriculture that couldn't be left behind.
At least three Chinese academics disagreed. Chang'an University researchers Peiyue Li, Hui Qian, and Jianhua Wu wrote in Nature: ''Land-creation projects are already causing air and water pollution, soil erosion and geological hazards such as subsidence. They destroy forests and farmlands and endanger wild animals and plants."
Researchers warned that the project could result in environmental, economic and technical problems due to poor planning. Last year, the leveling of hills in Lanzhou ceased after workers noticed visible particulate air pollution. Work resumed due to economic pressures, but the issue was never resolved. In Yan-an, soft soil could collapse during the rainy season. In Shiyan, leveling hills caused landslide and floods.
