All gone! A desolate scene unfolds in the most prestigious villa district in Beijing.

It's all covered in today's China Truths. With the downturn of China's economy and the accelerated emigration of the wealthy, the Vancouver Forest Villa District in Changping, once a symbol of high-end living in Beijing, is now showing signs of desolation. A large number of million-dollar villas have become vacant, and the gardens are overgrown with weeds. Many of these former luxury villas have been converted into company offices. Due to a lack of maintenance and care, these once-luxurious homes are now in a state of disrepair. Most owners of Beijing's luxury homes have emigrated overseas. Recently, a video released by the blogger Nervous Croquette showed him visiting the Vancouver Forest Villa community in Beikijia, Changping District, a neighborhood once known for its concentration of wealthy residents. He said he was looking for a house in the community on behalf of a friend who runs a business and plans to rent a villa near Beikijia for office use. Vancouver Forest, also known as Vancouver Garden Villa, is mainly composed of single-family homes and townhouses. According to listings on real estate platforms such as Anjouke and Fengtianxia, property prices in the community generally exceed 10 million yuan. Many single-family villas are priced between 15 million and 25 million yuan, or even higher, and even townhouses easily surpass 10 million yuan. The development was first built between 2002 and 2003, making it over 20 years old. The blogger noted that even before China's economy declined, many wealthy people had already lost trust in the government, moved their assets abroad, and obtained overseas green cards. In the Vancouver Forest Villa community, many villas now sit empty. He revealed that the real estate agent who showed him the property mentioned that most of the owners hold foreign residency, such as green cards, which is quite common. Most owners are in their 50s, born in the 1970s, and many have emigrated overseas. The trend of wealthy Chinese emigrating has existed for many years. But dissatisfaction with the CCP's authoritarian political system surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the pandemic ended and restrictions were lifted, even more wealthy individuals accelerated their emigration. In fact, the blogger's observation is not an isolated case. Data shows that the emigration of wealthy Chinese has become a trend. According to investment migration firm Henley & Partners, in 2023, 13,800 high-net-worth individuals left China, an increase of 28% from 2022, the highest number among all countries. The company projects that by the end of 2024, 15,200 Chinese millionaires will have left the country, setting a new record. When the wealthy leave, they often take their assets with them. Luxury homes stand vacant, rented out as office space. In one villa, the blogger noted that the garden and lawn had not been maintained. Many of the townhouses across from it were also empty. If you want to find a neighbor, it's not easy, he said. Nervous Croquette mentioned that the community used to be known for its strong market liquidity. During the real estate boom, properties in the neighborhood changed hands frequently. While the housing density is not low, most of the units are still single-family homes. Now, however, liquidity in the community is poor. He said that prices for these second-hand luxury homes have dropped by nearly half. But they are still difficult to sell. The blogger revealed that, according to the agent, most people who rent these vacant villas now use them as office spaces for filming videos or for e-commerce operations with the villas filled with goods. Few people rent them as actual residences. He mentioned that many residents in the community would park in their neighbor's parking spaces once they realized no one was living in those houses. An agent on site said that some tenants who previously rented villas in the community were unable to pay rent and had all moved out in the first half of last year. What the blogger observed aligns with broader macro trends in Beijing's high-end residential market. Although accurate data on the vacancy rate of luxury homes is hard to obtain, market transaction data shows that even villas worth tens of millions of yuan are under pressure to sell. Some newly built luxury properties have even had to lower prices to attract buyers. This stands in stark contrast to the high turnover rates during the peak of the real estate boom. The blogger lamented that most owners of these villas were born in the 1970s. Many started businesses around the year 2000 and eventually accumulated wealth. Before the pandemic in 2020, they had already made enough money to either emigrate or retire comfortably. However, he described the situation of the post-80s generation this way. Just when they were halfway up the mountain, the pandemic hit. The air thinned. They couldn't climb higher, and they had no choice but to descend. That's the reality now. Luxury homes are generally dilapidated. Nervous Croquette said some villas have become damaged after sitting vacant for long periods. The issue is quite serious. Many details need attention. Broken tiles, cracked wooden floors, damaged lawn decorations and fences. The lower parts of some garage walls are damp and moldy, giving the interiors a repulsive appearance. These villas have been uninhabited for years and have fallen into disrepair. The lockdowns during the pandemic further worsened the situation, and now many villas are used solely as office spaces. The blogger also noted that some houses in Vancouver Forest Garden are undergoing renovation, while others are being rented out. The contrast is striking. Some people are leaving, while others are fixing up their properties. He added that in the past, wealthy owners would spend millions on renovations after buying these villas. But things are different now. Many villas are poorly furnished with cheap materials. A lot of these luxury homes are leased to companies for office use. These businesses rarely maintain the properties, using them without care, which has left many villas in a rundown state. Rumors about the Chinese Communist military continue to circulate. Latest reports suggest that Zhongnanhai is experiencing major unrest. Since the second half of last year, the top leadership of the Chinese Communist military has been in disarray. Reports of senior generals being investigated, disappearing or dying under mysterious circumstances have spread widely. Many have vanished without a trace, such as Recently, sources within the Chinese Communist Party have reported that Zhongnanhai is now gripped by panic and turmoil. According to a recent tally by The Epoch Times, among the 79 generals personally promoted by Xi Jinping, at least 10 have been publicly dismissed or removed from their posts, and no fewer than 12 have been the subject of rumors regarding their downfall. Many of them have disappeared without explanation. He Weidong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, has missed several key meetings since this year's two sessions, and has not been seen publicly since. It is widely rumored that he is under investigation. On May 19, independent commentator Kai Shenken cited sources in Beijing claiming that He Hongjun, executive deputy director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission, died while in custody, reportedly following a failed attempt to resist interrogation or due to extreme psychological distress during detention. Due to the CCP's opaque internal operations, these reports remain unverified, and the cause of his death is still subject to speculation. Shen Mingxi, a researcher at Taiwan's National Defense and Security Research Institute, stated, One possibility is that he tried to sever the chain of evidence to stop further investigations into past corruption or illicit promotions. Another is that he may have taken his own life out of humiliation and pressure during the investigation. Of course, we also cannot rule out the possibility that he died under suspicious circumstances staged to appear as suicide. For example, Zhang Yang, the former director of the same department, also died under similar conditions. If that's the case, the matter could be far more complex than it appears on the surface. He Hongjun was promoted to general by Xi Jinping in July of last year, and soon after assumed the position of executive deputy director. In late April this year, he was reportedly taken away for investigation. He is said to have had close ties with Miao Hua, the disgraced former director of the Political Work Department. Both were considered close allies of Xi Jinping. Yuan Hongbing, a legal scholar based in Australia, said that after Miao Hua's case came to light, he and three secretaries reportedly named thousands of officers above the rank of colonel, including He Hongjun. Yuan noted growing unease within the military. He explained that those mentioned included both Miao's associates and individuals involved in internal disciplinary actions, a pattern in which investigations may impact multiple sides, leading to broader consequences within the ranks. On Tuesday, the Financial Times reported that Defense Minister Dong Jun would skip an upcoming meeting. With no official explanation, sparking widespread speculation. Tang Jingyuan, host of Jingyuan Lectures, said Dong's absence signals political turbulence. Though he lacks real power, his removal would be symbolic and could suggest Xi Jinping's weakening control over the military. Hundreds of millions in China still live in poverty. Over 200 million earn less than $70 a month. Hundreds of millions of Chinese people are living in poverty, with more than 200 million earning less than $70 a month, while public funds are siphoned straight into the pockets of corrupt officials. This video was filmed by an independent media blogger in Hunan province, capturing the living conditions of a poor, unsupported family. The room is dark and barely furnished. In fact, this father and son had already been classified as an impoverished household by the local government, and by regulation, they should be receiving monthly financial assistance. So why are they still living in such misery? Take, for example, some low-income households in Laixiang, Shandong province. They were supposed to receive 5,280 yuan, about $730, per year from the state poverty relief fund. In reality, they only received a mere 800 yuan, about $110, that's just 2.19 yuan per day. This amount isn't even enough to buy a bottle of mineral water, let alone cover basic necessities like food or fuel. What investigative journalists found was even more heartbreaking. The savings accounts of aid recipients are being controlled by village party secretaries. So where did the missing 4,000 yuan go? It ended up in the pockets of corrupt local officials. When it comes to poverty, the gap between official statistics and reality is staggering. According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, there are 66 million low-income individuals in China, but data from Zhongjin Consulting shows the number of people earning less than 500 yuan exceeds 220 million. On a broader scale, using the World Bank's poverty threshold for lower middle-income countries like China, anyone earning less than $3.20 per day is considered poor. Over 400 million Chinese citizens fall below the poverty line. If we use the poverty standard of countries like Russia or Turkey, $6.85 per day, roughly equivalent to the minimum welfare benefits in Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou at around 1,500 yuan or $210 per month, then more than 600 million Chinese people fail to meet that mark. According to research by Professor Li Shi of Zhejiang University, around 600 to 800 million Chinese people fall into the low-income bracket. Some may find this number hard to believe. After all, even low-paying jobs like food delivery, janitorial work or construction seem to bring in nearly 10,000 yuan a month. But the issue is that most workers also have to support elderly parents and school-aged children. Once household income is divided per person, how many individuals truly make over 2,000 yuan 280 a month? This is the harsh reality for the vast majority of Chinese families. Just look at the wave of random violent attacks erupting across China in recent years. The government is so alarmed that it's rushing to implement preventive measures, which in essence are just increased surveillance under the guise of early intervention. One of their latest plans, known as 80 Personnel and 3 Lows 3 Lacks Screening, targets economically vulnerable groups. The Chinese Communist Party fears that when people become too desperate, they might revolt. So instead of actually tackling poverty, the government focuses on control. This is how they silence the poor, forcing them to endure and obey. Public confidence in the economy is plummeting. Pessimism is spreading. Even private businesses are losing faith in the economic outlook. These aren't fabricated numbers from so-called anti-China forces. They are undeniable survey results. Just look around. How many food delivery workers are still racing through the streets late at night, exhausted from trying to complete 30 orders a day just to make 300 to 400 yuan? After rent, food and medical bills, they have nothing left. Look at the factories. Workers pulling overnight shifts in dusty workshops, where workplace accidents are common. Families are breaking apart, but the authorities turn a blind eye. Meanwhile, government officials making just 6,000 to 7,000 yuan a month, around $900, enjoy official cars, personal drivers, housing subsidies, gift vouchers, and endless perks. Their hidden income could fill an entire encyclopedia on corruption. One citizen lamented that officials barely touch their salaries. Their food is specially supplied, their drinks air-shipped, nobody dares question their performance reviews. And hiring? It's just a matter of who bribes more. This is the true face of China today. With absolute power, the Chinese Communist Party can define poverty however it pleases. Only when more people recognize this scam—the endless cycle of broken promises, bureaucratic barriers, and artificial classifications—will they realize that real change is needed. Every industry is weeping. The bubble of fake prosperity has burst, and China is in decline, as if regressing 30 years. This year has been brutally harsh. Chickens, ducks, fish, meat—all aren't selling. Not even old buffaloes. My seafood is even harder to sell. If this continues, we'll truly be left drinking the northwest wind to survive. Who can understand this kind of economy? These days, when a few small shop owners gather, they no longer discuss the future. Just vent about not knowing how to survive tomorrow. A chorus of sighs fills the air. People, the workers are crying, the business owners are crying, home buyers are crying, home sellers are crying, cattle farmers are crying, crop growers are crying, truck drivers, ride-hailing drivers are crying, couriers are crying, supermarket owners, restaurant owners are crying, even stock investors are crying. Traditional small and medium-sized shops, every sector, everyone is crying. In 2025, China's economy is spiraling downward. Every field is in decline. A cold economic wind is sweeping through every social class. A wave of unemployment, layoffs, unpaid wages, income cuts, and bankruptcies is hitting industry after industry. The bottom layers of society are struggling for survival. Once-bustling malls and lively commercial streets now lie eerily empty. Silence reigns. Row after row of shuttered shops. Now, it's not just clothing that can't be sold. Even vegetables are left unwanted. Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. 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