Beijing's population has already exceeded the municipal government's 2020 general urban planing target of 18 million residents. In 2010, the capital city saw an increase by one million to more than 19 million inhabitants. City authorities are looking to stamp down on the number of people flocking to Beijing and recently drafted a plan to control growth over the next 5 years.

With Traffic clogging up the capitals streets, and mouths needing water, the authorities are planning drastic measures to curb Beijing's ever booming population. Thousands of the city's residents live in basements and it is an area set to fall under the governments spotlight. Zhou Dashen moved from Henan province four years ago and runs an underground bicycle park. He shares a cramped underground room with three other members of his family.

Zhou Dasheng said, "The estate management company collects very low rent for the room, its almost free."

Looking after roughly 150 bikes, Zhou pockets less than one thousand yuan per month. He can't imagine how he will provide for his family should he and his family be kicked out.

"I don't know. Maybe I will think about other ways. But I can't afford the rent of an apartment, perhaps I'll go back home to find other jobs." Said Zhou.

In Beijing, nearly 800 thousand people live in basement accommodation like Zhou. It's a complicated problem which has left many housing experts scratching their heads.

With an ever increasing population, traffic and a scarcity of water resources will continue to furrow brows among authorities. It is clear drastic action is needed, and many hope better urban planning might hold the key.

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