Four people in China’s northeastern Heilongjiang Province were stunned when the ground underneath their feet gave way as they stood waiting at a bus top.

A security camera recorded the moment at 5:40pm on August 22 on Guxiang Boulevard in Harbin. One woman is seen clinging to a pipe after the collapse, while another woman and two men fell to the bottom of the three meter-deep hole.

Just prior to the collapse, a crowd of people are seen walking through, indicating this could have been even worse.

Some people at the scene helped the victims get out of the ten square meter hole, while others on the stairwell simply watched and then walked away.

The victims were sent to a Harbin hospital where they were treated for various injuries including sprains and abrasions. Police cordoned off an area 100 meters around the sinkhole as workers attempted to make repairs.

There still has been no official word as to what caused the sinkhole, although an investigation is said to be pending. The hole was repaired the day after it appeared, and reports say business in the area has returned to normal.

Sinkholes in China have become a regular occurrence.

This past May, two pedestrians were injured when a  two meter-deep sinkhole appeared beneath their feet in Duchang, Jiangxi Province. Jiangxi also had another sinkhole back in March when three students were swallowed by a three meter-deep hole in Pingxiang.

In June 2013, a grandmother and her grandson were swallowed up by a three meter-deep hole in Shenzhen. In June 2010, a women was swallowed up by a hole in Chengdu after rains had been pelting the city for days.

Here’s the video of the incident in Harbin:

The post Video: Sidewalk Opens Up and Swallows 4 Stunned People in Harbin appeared first on The Nanfang.

Another case of lining up, Guangzhou-style: Crossing the road in a civil and orderly fashion has caught on with the public
At Tianhe Road by the intersection of Tiyu East Road and Jiaoshe Road this evening, city residents wait for a traffic light on their own accord before crossing the street during the evening rush hour. Previously, the sight of pedestrians and electric scooters crossing against red lights at every intersection along the main arteries in Guangzhou was a common occurrence, but residents have gotten in the good habit of complying with traffic regulations, and acting in a civilized and orderly manner.

While the photo used in the story certainly suggests a newfound appreciation for the rule of law, the comments section of the article tells a very different story:

深海里的蓝色海星：
Who’s willing to charge against the lights? There’s so many cars.

FCterry_cui：
Would you choose to cross a frickin’ road with this kind of traffic volume? Aren’t you just looking for trouble by doing so? By going further into the city and into its older and smaller roads you’ll find things are quite different.

olin_Law：
At this type of intersection, the road has many lanes and is wide; and the cars travel at a fast speed. Who is willing to cross against a red light and kill themselves?

为了那片不再掉的眼泪：
If this road wasn’t so wide and the cars so many, people would have long charged against a red light and crossed the road.

A_Aimee：
Of course people won’t cross this road; there are so many cars, not to mention that it’s so wide. For a real eyeopener go over to Tianhe North and have a look!!!

Commenters also provided numerous examples of where you could easily find pedestrians crossing against red lights:

LeeDane：
Please come on over to Censong public transport station at eight in the morning and have a look for yourself.

GAVIN_LEE：
pickingnose.emoji] You’re welcome to come to University City and take a look.

choheng_hsien：
Is Tianhe the only district in Guangzhou? If you’ve got any guts, come on over to Baiyun District and take a look for yourself.

Raven-K-德：
Hey author: Don’t try to fool outsiders, okay? At the place you’re talking about, the cars drive by in an unending line. Cross a few roads over, and we’ll see (if you think the same thing)…

But for others, this story says more about China’s society and culture:

谁的眼泪在飞1177：
In front of so many people, you wouldn’t dare be the first to stand out and cross the road on your own.

广州社工委：
A civil society isn’t something that happens overnight.

While Guangzhou residents are arguably becoming more civil by waiting for a green light to cross at least one intersection, it would appear there’s still a long way to go before the city reaches a “new normal”.

The post Guangzhou Says Jaywalking a Thing of the Past, but Residents Unconvinced appeared first on The Nanfang.

For the uninitiated, traffic in mainland China is not about yielding to others. Instead, the “right of way” is something given to whomever can get there first. Chinese roads are treacherous, as both aggressive driving and jaywalking are common.

That’s why this CCTV report, which was about Macau, has attracted so much attention.

Chinese people have long said that the aggressiveness on the roads is cultural, and how Chinese people get things done in time. The fact the politeness happened in Macau – a Chinese territory filled with Chinese residents – was perplexing.

Many commentators scoffed at the Macau example, saying it wouldn’t work in the mainland:

奋斗年代-甲乙丙丁：
If it was like this on the mainland… when going to work in the morning, you’d wait until it turned dark before you were able to pass the pedestrian crossing.

期盼五月天：
If it was like this on the mainland, drivers would not be able to move…

獵奇腐：
Actually, it’s like this everywhere outside of China: cars will all stop for people! They’ll willingly brake and let you (pedestrians) go first! However, the problem is that there are few foreigners (in China)!!
Have you ever considered all the cars in line that are held up when the car in front stops for a pedestrian in China? What’s more, are you able to stop for all the pedestrians here?

SunsiHao丶：
Idiot. How many people are there in Macau versus how many people in mainland China? Complying to these terms would mean heavy traffic congestion.

文玩珠宝聚臻堂：
This works as long as the population is low. To institute this on the mainland would to cause a traffic jam that would be backed up right to the base of the Great Wall of China.

牛得光宗耀祖：
It’s not that they can’t learn. With so many people in China, there’s no way to let them go (ahead).

If you read other comments, you’ll see that the problem isn’t too many people, but the pedestrians themselves:

Vay南柯：
It’s not that they won’t learn (to follow the Macau custom), it’s that mainland Chinese pedestrians don’t have the ability to see while drivers wait at intersections (for them). Don’t think about trying to trying to take the car out for a drive in the morning. If you don’t believe me, try it for yourself.

圆小圆YY：
So many people… when witnessing the morning and evening rush hour… (a legion that is) simply without end. 

On the other hand, some say that it is the drivers that are causing the problem:

Luvian冰：
I have personally experienced the pedestrian crosswalks in Macau! Everyday while going to work an electric scooter or two nearly collides with me. You’re taking your life in your own hands when commuting to work or back home.

Others say the discrepancy is because Macau follows laws:

孙国庆：
According to traffic rules, Macau drivers have it very different than mainland drivers. Drivers must completely stop for pedestrians at a pedestrian crosswalk, or when pedestrians have the green light. As they must wait until pedestrians are one meter away from their cars before driving off, drivers can not transgress upon the safety of pedestrians. On the other hand, people who cross against red lights will still be dealt with under the law if they are hit.

Noah六六：
Harsh penalties will instill good habits. (Bad driving is a sign of the) unresigned determination that typifies all mainlanders located up until the Yellow River.

Before we write off the entire mainland, many pointed out that fellow tourist town Hangzhou has drivers that are similarly courteous to those in Macau:

InitialDream请叫我SISISISmile：
It’s like this in Hangzhou, too.

sunny_米：
Hangzhou is able to do this, though there are pedestrians that cross when the light is red.

巧克力小宝a：
I’ve stayed in Hangzhou for an extended time. Hangzhou drivers will stop for pedestrians at crosswalks!

And a few more:

關馬高：
The normal compliance of traffic rules has become a system of learning by example.]

1435疯小鱼：
One country, two systems…

云毅巜：
No traffic lights! Either (you’re a pedestrian) that gets run over by a car, or (a driver) that gets swindled! (implying a use of the “broken vase” trick)

抱吴亦凡大腿：
Macau is rich, but what does the mainland have? A Macau passport has all types of visa exemptions, but what (benefits) does a mainland visa have?

One more thing Macau has are traffic-awareness programs that promote safety at pedestrian crossings. If mainland China wants to follow Macau’s example, they’ll need to hire these guys, and their costumes.

Photos: aomenshizheng, macaocp, CCTV

The post Mainlanders Perplexed by Polite Traffic Etiquette in Macau appeared first on The Nanfang.

The Shenzhen Municipal Transportation and Transport Committee has partnered with the Futian local government to build a bike path that crosses North Ring Road at the Xinzhou overpass. The overpass will include a roof to provide shelter for pedestrians.

Scheduled to start construction next year, the plan also includes designated bike trails running from Meilin to the downtown core. Car lanes along Hongli Road will be narrowed in order to facilitate the bike lane.

Here are some photos of what the new addition will look like:

Related:

• Shenzhen Named Mainland China’s Most Pedestrian-Friendly City
• Shenzhen to Build Hong Kong-style Pedestrian Walkways

Photos: Shenzhen Traffic Police

The post Dedicated Shenzhen Bike Lanes Planned for Next Year appeared first on The Nanfang.

Shenzhen is planning to make numerous improvements throughout the city, and some of its inspiration will come directly from its neighbor to the south.

Shenzhen is looking to create a number of pedestrian corridors in its Central Business District that match those in Admiralty, Hong Kong. They will be built in the “Golden Triangle” and six other areas where pedestrian traffic is highest.

Shenzhen is also planning to create an all-day or temporary commercial pedestrian street in Nanshan central district, Huaqiangbei, and Dongmen.

Shenzhen’s network of scenic tour routes will also be improved, with the combination of the Lianhuashan and Bijiashan green routes. As well, pedestrian routes nearby hospitals will be upgraded.

A total of nine new pedestrian scenic routes will be constructed in the areas of Meilin, Chegongmiao, Bihai, Tianbei, Xiashuijing, Bantian, Baishaling, Haiyue, and Dongjiaotou.

Lastly, Shenzhen will upgrade the city’s bike trails and offer more bike rentals for those who prefer two wheels to two feet.

Photo: blog.sina

The post Shenzhen to Build Hong Kong-style Pedestrian Walkways appeared first on The Nanfang.

‘Spring Flower’ footbridge in Nanshan District in Shenzhen drew a whopping investment of RMB 50 million.

Shenzhen, the southern boom-town of Guangdong, was recently voted mainland China’s most pedestrian-friendly city, according to a report by the Natural Resources Defense Council, a New York-based environmental advocacy group.

Guangzhou followed Shenzhen, ranking No. 4. The council surveyed a total of 35 cities in China; Shenzhen scored 67.83 points out of a possible one hundred in terms of walking safety, comfort, convenience and government management, reported Jing Daily on September 11.

Although not part of mainland China, Hong Kong took the top prize for being a walkable city, based on its sound infrastructure and public facilities. Shanghai placed 3rd, while Dalian placed 5th.

A number of specific locations were also recommended by the newspaper. The 14 areas include: Qian Hai, Shekou, Nanshan commercial culture center, Gaoxin District, Huaqiao City, Windows on the World, Shenzhen Bay, Chegong Temple, Central District, Huanggang Port, Huaqiang North, Luohu commercial district, Shatou Jiao and Daxiao Meisha.

Many local residents, however, continue to complain that Shenzhen’s facilities are less than ideal, citing narrow sidewalks, uneven surfaces, poor traffic lights and maintenance as primary problems.

What do you think? Does Shenzhen live up to being rewarded as mainland China’s most pedestrian-friendly city?

Photos: Shenzhen Jianxu Testing Engineering Services Co Ltd

The post Shenzhen Named Mainland China’s Most Pedestrian-Friendly City appeared first on The Nanfang.

Armed police cordoned off the area and police were seen aiming rifles at the suspect.

While police were negotiating with the suspect, officers moved in to subdue him with an elbow to the throat. The hostage was finally freed at 9:57 pm, not 35 minutes after the incident first began. She was unharmed, and apparently did not know the man who took her hostage.

The suspect is surnamed Tan, is 38 years-old, and from Liuzhou in Guangxi Province. No motive for the hostage taken has been given.

Wangfujing is one of 14 “anti-terrorism locations” in Beijing that are mandated to have a police response to emergencies within one minute.

Crowds of onlookers thronged the area craning for a better view:

This is a photo of Tan during the subsequent police interrogation:

Photos: Shenzhen Evening Report, Weibo (2)

The post Police Free Hostage in Tense Situation on Beijing’s Wangfujing Pedestrian Street appeared first on The Nanfang.

At 5:32pm on April 27, a scaffolding structure collapsed at the Minlefu Shopping Center in Pingshan, Shenzhen.

The injured include four pedestrians and one worker at the scene. The injured were sent to Pingshan People’s Hosptial, and all are in stable condition. Two have light injuries, while three have received broken bones as a result of the accident.

From the pictures, it appears the scaffolding was not anchored properly but survived the fall intact, prompting comparisons to the Shanghai building that fell down and landed in a similar fashion.

Photos: Sina via Weibo

The post Scaffold Collapses at Shopping Mall in Shenzhen, 5 Injured appeared first on The Nanfang.

At around 3.30pm, six to seven men gathered in front of a decrepit store on the Beijing Street Pedestrian walkway. The men were all wearing similar green army fatigues, gloves with the fingers cut out of them, and sported similar haircuts. They were also armed with metal pipes.

Despite alerting police who arrived quicklky, a physical altercation broke out in front of police. The men in green chased two men that had arrived at the scene and beat them with their metal pipes, causing head trauma and other injuries that left a pool of blood on the ground. Because the combatants did not listen to police commands to stop, two warning shots were fired into the air.

Six men were taken into custody. The men had been fighting over renovations made to the store.

Photos: City Weekend

The post Shots Fired at Brawl on Guangzhou’s Beijing Pedestrian Street, Two Injured appeared first on The Nanfang.

The No.16 bus belongs to the First Auto Work Bus Company, Ltd. A representative of the company expressed “deep shame” about the accident and pledged to make every effort to compensate the victims’ families. Initially, Guangzhou Transportation Committee alleged that the accident had been caused by careless or reckless driving.

Reporters visited the scene of the accident and found that the section of Guangzhou Avenue North has been causing trouble for a long time.

Residents of the surrounding area had their own suggestions about the cause of the problem. They said that the subway exit and the sidewalk are often taken up by illegal vendors, forcing pedestrians to walk on the road. This is extra dangerous at night when visibility is low.

A driver who insisted upon anonymity explained that drivers could do little about this problem. “We have to drive at very low speeds at the section, almost slowing to a crawl,” said the driver.

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