Protests over uprooting of trees for car park project

Protests are growing in Shijingshan district where residents are furious about a plan to turn a 40,000-sq-m wood into a parking lot.

The woodland area next to the western edge of Shijingshan Amusement Park was fenced off late last month, prompting some residents to push over barriers in protest, said a spokesman, surnamed Lu, with the residential committee of Bajiao North Lane, a neighborhood close to the wood.

"District authorities approved the project and residents who live close to the wood complained when they learned the decision," said Lu. "A briefing was held last week and many residents voiced their opposition."