Yet statistics from a statement titled Location and Size of Farmland in Xinzhuang, Jinnan District show that in 1996, the size of farmland in Baitangkou was 4,507.31 mu, and the total size planned for 2010 is 4074.15 mu.

During the years when massive farmland was converted to other use, each of the 4,000 villagers was compensated between 10,000 and 15,000 yuan. But as one villager who wishes to remain anonymous says, "the village committee promised that we'd get 5,000 yuan a year after our land was rented. But now we only get 300 after we visited the committee and demanded the money."

The villagers have even hired a lawyer to study the size of land leased out and the corresponding payable amount.

Today, usable land in the village has been reduced to less than 1,700 mu, let alone land suitable for farming. "Now we can neither get money from renting nor farming. If the land were there, at least our food would be guaranteed," says one elderly villager who makes a living by guarding a workshop.