But government-affiliated researcher Gu Mei claims the government has done a poor job addressing the problem . When cracks appeared in Xiao 's life he feared the worse . Xiao 's hometown , Beijing , is one of China 's massive ` ` coal cities '' He watched many of his neighbors ' homes sink into the ground . Officials : Sinkholes destroy 20 million square meters of land here a year .
When cracks appeared in Xiao 's life he feared the worse . Xiao 's hometown , Beijing , is one of China 's massive ` ` coal cities '' He watched many of his neighbors ' homes sink into the ground . Officials : Sinkholes destroy 20 million square meters of land here a year .