You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Chinese. Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
This article is missing information about additional information and details on the "(Top)" section, "Origins and defintion section", and existing examples of 2008 Sichuan earthquake, Bridge collapses in 2024, Bangkok Audit Office collapase in 2025, and Hongqi bridge collapse in the "Examples" section, and adding other examples of tofu-dreg projects in the article. (January 2026) |
"Tofu-dreg project" or "tofu buildings" (Chinese: 豆腐渣工程) is a Chinese phrase used to describe poorly constructed buildings or infrastructure, often due to time constraints or corruption.[1] In the event of a failure or collapse, online discussion and media coverage is frequently censored. [2][3]
| Tofu-dreg project | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 豆腐渣工程 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Recent uses of the term include buildings which collapsed after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake,[4][5][6][7][8][9] and the Bangkok Audit Office skyscraper which collapsed initiated by aftershocks from the March 2025 Myanmar earthquake over 1000 km away, which was constructed with poor construction techniques and materials.[2][3] In July and August 2024, over 100 people were killed in collapses of roads and bridges, which has been attributed to tofu-dreg construction of such infrastructure. [10]
Origins and definition
editThe phrase was coined by Zhu Rongji, the former premier of the People's Republic of China, on a 1998 visit to Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province to describe poorly built levees in the Yangtze River.[11]
In China, the term tofu dregs (the pieces left over after making tofu) is widely used as a metaphor for shoddy work, hence the implication that a "tofu-dreg project" is a poorly executed project.[2][3] Chinese architect Li Hu has suggested that tofu-dreg projects have a reduced lifespan or increased leakage but claimed that the risk of collapse was overblown.[12]
On 15 May 2008, Geoffrey York of The Globe and Mail reported that poorly constructed buildings were called "tofu buildings", and that planners replaced steel rods with thin iron wires for reinforcing concrete, used bad cement, and used a lower amount of bricks than needed.[13]
Explanation
editThere are several reasons why tofu-dreg buildings are created. Corruption and political ties certainly plays a role. For example, between January and August 2011, over 6,800 officials had been prosecuted due to corruption of infrastructure projects, according to the Communist Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. Local governments also rely on the revenue brought by construction projects, so quick growth is encouraged.[14]
Another problem are the so called "tribute projects", buildings that are rushed to be complete in time for celebratory dates such as State anniversaries, so that local officials can ingratiate themselves with their superiors. Among notable examples, In 2011, a bridge in Jiaozhou Bay was rushed to be completed in time for the 90th Anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, and was recorded by China Central Television missing parts such as unsecured bolts; in 2007, the Fengda Bridge in Fenghuang County, built in time for the 50th anniversary of the founding of Xiangxi Prefecture, fell, killing 64 people and injuring 22.[15][14]
Examples
edit2008 Sichuan earthquake
edit
During the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, many schoolhouses collapsed; resulting in the death of students. These buildings have been used to exemplify tofu-dreg projects. The collapses were linked to allegations of corruption in the construction of Chinese schools.
…School construction is the worst. First, there's not enough capital. Schools in poor areas have small budgets and, unlike schools in the cities, they can't collect huge fees, so they're pressed for money. With construction, add in exploitation by government officials, education officials, school managers, etc. and you can imagine what's left over for the actual building of schools. When earthquake prevention standards are raised, government departments, major businesses, etc. will all appraise and reinforce their buildings. But these schools with their 70s-era buildings, no one pays attention to them. Because of this, the older school buildings are suffer[ing] from inadequate protection while the new buildings have been shoddily constructed.
— A construction engineer using the pseudonym "Book Blade" (书剑子)[16]
The state-controlled media has largely ignored the tofu-dregs schoolhouses, under directives from the propaganda bureau's instructions. Parents, volunteers, and journalists who have questioned authorities have been intimidated or arrested.[17][18][19][20] To quash the issue, riot police officers have broken up protests by parents, cordons have been set up around the schools in question, and reportage simply stopped.[21]
Taizhou Dam incident
editAn emblematic example of a tofu-dreg project happened in Taizhou, Jiangsu, where an accident where a car hit a concrete parapet of a dam on the Nanguan river, a tributary of the Yangtse, revealed that the supposed steel reinforcements of the concrete instead was filled with weed stems.[22]
Outside of China
editChinese-owned construction companies were involved in the following overseas projects, often as part of the Belt and Road Initiative:
References
edit- ↑ https://eng.mizzima.com/2025/04/25/21661
- 1 2 3 Lu, Alan (1 April 2025). "China muzzles online debate on construction standards after Bangkok building collapse". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- 1 2 3 Colville, Alex (2 April 2025). "Deadly Blunders in Bangkok". China Media Project. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ↑ Shuk-ting, Kinnia Yau (5 December 2013). Natural Disaster and Reconstruction in Asian Economies: A Global Synthesis of Shared Experiences. Springer. ISBN 978-1-137-36416-6.
- ↑ "墨西哥地震學校倒塌 豆腐渣工程核准人判208年 | 國際 | 中央社 CNA". www.cna.com.tw (in Chinese). 16 July 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ↑ "糗！正恩建設是「豆腐渣工程」 強風一來屋頂直接被吹翻 | ETtoday國際新聞 | ETtoday新聞雲". www.ettoday.net (in Traditional Chinese). 30 December 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ↑ "20秒害死502人：26年前的豆腐渣工程，成为韩国人永远的痛_湃客_澎湃新闻-The Paper". www.thepaper.cn. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ↑ "新加坡惊现建筑"豆腐渣"工程". 南洋视界. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ↑ 新加坡眼 (19 June 2016). "新加坡也有豆腐渣工程，倒下的瞬间，太吓人了！". 新加坡眼 (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ↑ https://thediplomat.com/2025/11/hongqi-bridge-collapse-is-a-warning-chinas-leaders-should-listen/
- ↑ Cary, Eve. "China's Dangerous Tofu Projects". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ↑ Rizzardi, Pier Alessio; Hankun, Zhang (2018). The Condition of Chinese Architecture. TCA Think Tank. ISBN 978-1-9164537-0-8.
- ↑ York, Geoffrey (15 May 2008). "Why China's buildings crumbled Survivors blame corruption, shoddy construction and cost cutting for the collapse of so many 'tofu buildings' – and even state media outlets are asking questions". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 10 October 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
- 1 2 Cary, Eve. "China's Dangerous Tofu Projects". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
- ↑ "'Tribute projects' built on shaky ground[2]- Chinadaily.com.cn". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
- ↑ "A Construction Engineer's Thoughts on the Sichuan Earthquake". China Digital Times. 22 May 2008.
- ↑ Cara Anna, Sensitive China quake photo removed, Associated Press via USA Today, 6/14/08. Retrieved 6/29/12
- ↑ Lee, Diana and agencies (February 10, 2010), Fury at jail for quake activist Archived 4 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, The Standard
- ↑ "Press Release: Family Visits Still Denied to Sichuan School Teacher Punished after Quake-Zone Visit". Human Rights in China. 29 July 2008. Archived from the original on 9 January 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
- ↑ "Sichuan Teacher, Liu Shaokun, was Released to Serve his Reeducation-Through-Labor Sentence Outside of Labor Camp". Human Rights in China. 29 September 2008. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ↑ Wong, Edward (24 July 2008). "China Presses Hush Money on Grieving Parents". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
- ↑ "Crash exposes parapet built of weeds". www.szdaily.com. Retrieved 16 June 2026.