Nearly a decade after Beijing launched a nationwide push to curb coal burning and combat winter smog, residents in northern Hebei province are facing a new challenge: affording the high cost of clean heating. With government subsidies for natural gas largely phased out, many villagers are keeping their homes cold to save money, highlighting a growing tension between environmental goals and rural living costs.
In 2017, the Chinese central government mandated that dozens of northern regions reduce reliance on coal-fired stoves, replacing them with natural gas or electric heating systems. The initiative was part of a broader effort to reduce hazardous winter pollution that regularly blanketed cities in thick smog. Initially, the government allocated funds to help households refit their stoves, but those subsidies were designed to last just three years, and additional support has since dwindled.
In Xushui, a district roughly 100 kilometers outside Beijing, villagers described the dilemma plainly. Many are hesitant to turn on heating, fearing the steep bills will eat into their modest incomes. “Regular folks can’t afford it,” said a man in his 60s at a local farmers’ market. “Spending 1,000 yuan [US$143] per month on heat—no one can stand that. Everyone likes that the air is clean, but the cost of clean air is high.”
Temperatures in the region routinely drop below freezing during winter. During a recent visit, AFP reported highs of just under 6°C and lows of minus seven. For residents like restaurant worker Yin Chunlan, the costs are particularly heavy for elderly family members living in traditional village homes. Her in-laws spend up to 7,000 yuan per year heating their six-room house, while Yin’s own apartment in town costs roughly a third of that annually.
“It’s not the same in the village,” she said. “They have to set their heating much higher, and the temperature still isn’t as warm, so it wastes gas and wastes money.” To cope, her in-laws often pile on extra blankets, a makeshift solution that underscores the strain. “When I see it, it’s quite pitiful,” Yin said, wiping away a tear.
Some villagers have resorted to creative ways to survive the cold. In one Xushui home, a woman in her 70s wore a thick green padded jacket beneath her apron while crossing her outdoor courtyard. The heating system in her house remained off during the day, with the switchboard above her stove clearly indicating “off.” She laughed when asked if the room felt warm, noting the dial could reach 60°C but the interior still felt chilly.
The disparity in heating costs between Hebei and neighboring regions has drawn attention on social media, despite strict content controls. An article in Farmers’ Daily, later reshared by state media outlet CCTV, reported that natural gas in rural Hebei could cost up to 3.4 yuan per cubic meter, compared with 2.6 yuan in rural Beijing. Many villagers told AFP that the difference felt unfair, though the original articles were quickly removed or became inaccessible in the days following publication.
The Ministry of Finance reported in 2021 that 13.2 billion yuan had been distributed to support clean heating across Hebei. However, subsidies for gas bills and stove installation, which were intended to last three years, were not renewed. The reduction coincided with rising international gas prices driven by Russia’s war in Ukraine, which contributed to slower growth in national gas consumption last year.
Local authorities have indicated that special funds could be arranged for additional support in rural areas, but specific details remain unclear. Back in 2017, Xushui officials announced that some households might receive 300 yuan in gas subsidies. For villagers like Zhang Yanjun, a 55-year-old laborer, that amount barely scratches the surface of their heating expenses. “I’ve already spent more than 5,000 yuan on heating since October,” he said. “If you give 300 or 200 yuan, it’s the same as giving no subsidies at all.”
Experts say the situation illustrates a broader challenge in China’s environmental policy: balancing air quality improvements with the financial realities of rural citizens. While urban areas may absorb the higher costs of cleaner heating more easily, villagers in northern provinces often live on fixed, modest incomes, leaving them vulnerable during cold winters.
As winter deepens in Hebei, the sight of villagers bundling up under quilts or wearing multiple layers indoors has become increasingly common. The government’s clean-air policy, initially celebrated for reducing smog, now presents a stark trade-off: healthier air comes at the price of warmth for those least able to afford it.
With few concrete plans for renewed subsidies and energy costs remaining high, many in northern China are bracing for more cold months ahead. For families like Yin’s in-laws and Zhang Yanjun, the choice is stark—pay unaffordable bills or endure the cold, a dilemma that continues to stir debate over the social cost of China’s environmental reforms.
