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Villagers Struggle with Heating Costs Amid Cold Snap

1/13/2026

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Summary

Story summary

In northern China, rural villagers face extreme cold from high heating costs.
Wang, a 75-year-old from Hebei, cannot afford daytime heating, with winter costs reaching 6,000 yuan (US$860), about one-third of the region's 2024 rural disposable income.
She survives on a monthly pension of just over 200 yuan (US$29).
Beijing reports its best air quality in a decade as 27 million Hebei farmers shift from coal-fired heating since 2017.

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Story summary

In northern China, rural villagers face extreme cold from high heating costs.
Wang, a 75-year-old from Hebei, cannot afford daytime heating, with winter costs reaching 6,000 yuan (US$860), about one-third of the region's 2024 rural disposable income.
She survives on a monthly pension of just over 200 yuan (US$29).
Beijing reports its best air quality in a decade as 27 million Hebei farmers shift from coal-fired heating since 2017.