JFIF,,rPhotoshop 3.08BIMV 1FINPOLCSP(>Not Released (NR) TO GO WITH China-economy-housing, PHOTOESSAYsAFP 1543007982bestofcrisi#U1m-topix Horizontal constructionurban-planningiCHINA-ECONOMY-HOUSING720230704nAFP via Getty ImageseChinadCHNtAFP or licensorsZHegangIxThis photo taken on July 4, 2023 shows people relaxing by a lake near residential buildings in Hegang city in northeastern China's Heilongjiang province. China's real estate industry grew at lightning speed from the late 90s, and was a major component of the country's turbocharged economic expansion. But with growth slowing and debts swelling, authorities cut off access to easy loans in 2020, pummelling the sector and causing a record-breaking slump last year. A wave of young Chinese are choosing to invest in dirt-cheap real estate in declining and remote industrial regions, ditching China's modern, expensive metropolises. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP) / TO GO WITH China-economy-housing, PHOTOESSAY (Photo by JADE GAO/AFP via Getty Images)U ContributorPJADE GAO\ExifII*| (12; i%This photo taken on July 4, 2023 shows people relaxing by a lake near residential buildings in Hegang city in northeastern China's Heilongjiang province. China's real estate industry grew at lightning speed from the late 90s, and was a major component of the country's turbocharged economic expansion. But with growth slowing and debts swelling, authorities cut off access to easy loans in 2020, pummelling the sector and causing a record-breaking slump last year. A wave of young Chinese are choosing to invest in dirt-cheap real estate in declining and remote industrial regions, ditching China's modern, expensive metropolises. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP) / TO GO WITH China-economy-housing, PHOTOESSAYNIKON CORPORATIONNIKON Z 6_2,,g2mapping 3.9.17/libg2 3.9.412023:07:20 02:08:59JADE GAOAFP or licensors 02320100R12023:07:04 18:59:492023:07:20 02:00:47+00:00+08:00+00:006023015N$E</0chttp://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/ CSP POL FIN 1543007982 urban-planning construction Horizontal topix bestof JADE GAO This photo taken on July 4, 2023 shows people relaxing by a lake near residential buildings in Hegang city in northeastern China's Heilongjiang province. China's real estate industry grew at lightning speed from the late 90s, and was a major component of the country's turbocharged economic expansion. But with growth slowing and debts swelling, authorities cut off access to easy loans in 2020, pummelling the sector and causing a record-breaking slump last year. A wave of young Chinese are choosing to invest in dirt-cheap real estate in declining and remote industrial regions, ditching China's modern, expensive metropolises. 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