Asia Insight: 9x2

The Twilight of Chinese Coal

Once a prosperous coal mining city, China’s northeastern city of Hegang boasted double-digit economic growth for over a decade. But now, among diminished demand for coal, residents who staked their lives on the industry are finding it hard to make ends meet. Social problems such as shoplifting and alcoholism are on the rise. Despite the difficulty of finding new work, the citizens of Hegang continue to seek a light at the end of the tunnel.