Apple Daily News: An Area Of North China 40 Times the Size of Hong Kong Faces The Threat Of Sinking Due To Overuse Of Ground Water

September 3, 2002, Apple Daily News According to an official report from China, North China Plateau, one of the country's most populated areas, is forming the largest underground funnel in the world due to excessive use of ground water. The funnel area is expanding and has reached over 40,000 square kilometers, or the size of 40 Hong Kongs. The area faces the threat of sinking, endangering the life and property of millions of residents.

The underground funnel stretches across Hebei province, Tianjin city, and Shandong province, occupied by several million residents. Many mid-sized cities such as Tianjin, Cangzhou, and Dezhou are located at the center of the funnel. According to hydraulic experts, Hebei province has always overused the underground water due to a severe shortage in water supply. With the present section reaching 50,000 square kilometers, North China Plateau is the largest sinking area in China.