The idea of a dīngzihù (nail house) is becoming more commonplace in China, with the term referring to owners who refuse to vacate their properties and end up having structures built around them.

The nail house name was coined by developers who likened their appearance to a nail that sticks out but is unable to be removed or knocked down.

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) abolished private ownership of property, meaning the central government owned all real estate and could effectively build what it wanted and where it wanted.

This was strengthened by the likes of shopping malls popping up in densely populated areas in the ’90s, and developers offering residents minimal compensation to leave their homes. Things were helped by the introduction of China’s first modern private property law in 2007, although there are plenty of nail houses (literally) sticking out like eyesores.

The tofu vendor admits he regrets not taking the government’s offer (Douyin)
As reported by the South China Morning Post, tofu vendor Ye Yushou’s two-storey home is surrounded by an active construction site that’s complete with dust, vibrations, and noisy workers. It could’ve been a very different story if he’d accepted the 1.6 million yuan ($220,000) offer in 2022.

With Yushou turning down the monetary offer and additional promise of two other homes, the government simply started construction around his house that lies between Jinxi County’s G206 highway and eastern China’s Jiangxi province. It’s now referred to as the ‘Eye of Jinxi’, but as the construction crew has even made an access point for residents, it doesn’t look like it’ll be demolished or the government will come back with another offer.