Located in Shalao Hutong, in Beijing’s Andingmen area in Dongcheng District, the newly discovered, albeit unfinished, illegal structure was three floors, or ten meters (32.8 feet) deep, with a total floor space of some 700 square meters (2,296 square feet).

Walls and pillars were strengthened with reinforced concrete, and the underground complex resembles a pyramid: the second-level was between two and three times larger than the first underground level. The third level was unfinished.

Built under two adjacent bungalows owned by a 50 year-old man named Li, construction was hidden from neighbors by hiring workers from midnight to dawn, and using shovels to dig the vast underground chamber rather than draw attention by using heavy machinery. Neighbors eventually became suspicious and reported Li to the authorities in October.

Li had big plans for his underground complex: he wanted to use the vast underground space as a garage, to store cars from his car rental service. In its current state, about 50 cars could be stored in the space, but he wanted to build it big enough for 100.

Basement extensions are illegal in Beijing, and no building permits are granted for such renovations. Builders instead rely upon guanxi (special relationships) to help avoid authorities.

Illegal basements in Beijing made headlines last February when one such illegal basement built by a representative of China’s National People’s Congress collapsed and opened up a massive sinkhole that forced 15 local residents to be evacuated from their homes.

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The collapse of an illegal basement belonging to a representative of the National People’s Conference last week revealed a new and disturbing trend in Beijing. In order to increase the size and value of their property, Beijing homeowners are building illegal basements. Mostly seen in the city’s east and west ends, basement construction is most prevalent among siheyuan, a traditional Beijing-style courtyard home.

Homeowners use reinforced concrete and steel to support their basements with ceilings only two meters high. While the doubled floor space can add up to 10 million yuan to the value of the home, the excavation involved in building these basements, risks the collapse of neighbouring properties. Basement expansions are illegal in Beijing, and no building permits are granted for such renovations.

Notwithstanding the risks involved, as well as the illegality of their construction, an industry insider surnamed Wang revealed that nothing is being done to prevent them:

Digging out your own basement is not about how much money you spend. Reinforced concrete isn’t the most valuable (resource here), what’s most valuable is the guanxi (relationships) that a family has that will prevent anyone from filing a report.

Mr. Zhang, a member of the Housing Agency, believes Guanxi is the key unspoken rule: Guanxi ensures that residents don’t inform authorities of the illegal construction and, conversely, prevents authorities from asking about them.

Photos: fznews

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A sinkhole opened up in Xuzhou, Jiangsu, on January 24. It turns out it was created by a basement built illegally by Li Baojun, a representative of China’s National People’s Congress. The sinkhole forced 15 residents to be evacuated from their homes while a four-story house teetered precariously to one side. The hole was so wide it stretched out into the road in front.

Li had previously been penalized for making illegal renovations to his home last July.

Li had not obtained authorizations to build the basement, and many concerned residents had called the local chengguan hotline but their calls were not answered.

Crews have spent three days filling the 1.900-square meter hole with sand and cement. The street has since re-opened, and repairs are underway to fix the teetering home.

Related:

• No Elevator for Your 5th Floor Walkup? Man Builds His Own (Illegal) One
• Guy Builds a Forest on a Guangzhou Apartment Building to Hide Illegal Floors
• Demolition Begins on Hidden Forest House in Guangzhou
• Dongguan “castle in the sky” becomes latest controversial structure
• Police officer busted for having a decked-out illegal gambling den in Shenzhen

Photos: China News Network, iFeng

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We’re trying to imagine just what kind of negotiation took place as a source with the chengguan revealed the legality of the building was never actually determined. Instead, demolition was initiated since the owner was anxious Guangzhou residents couldn’t see the virtual forest for the trees.

In a move that may further deter the promotion of Shenzhen rooftops as a green space, we note with bemusement that the colloquial name given by the Chinese press to this apartment is “big green hat”. For those who have never been on the receiving end of this insult, “wearing a green hat” is the Chinese euphemism for  a “cuckold”.

Located in North Haitangge Neighborhood of Tianhe District, we imagine Poison Ivy is currently cursing at the Caped Crusader and is plotting from another secret lair, perhaps from the rooftop temple located in Shenzhen.

Photos: Nanfang Daily, ChinaNews via bzcm

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The location of the building, near Guangzhou North Station, clashed with some of the goals of the city’s Urban Planning Bureau. The building had a floor space of 22,917 square metres and had already been put into operation. It was demolished Dec. 28 after an investigation into its legality that began in June 2012.

The demolition in Huadu District, image courtesy of Chinanews

The most high-profile illegal constructions of the past year have included the fake mountain villa in Beijing, the rooftop temple in Shenzhen and the Dongguan “castle in the sky.”

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