In Shenmu County, Yulin, Shanxi province, which has been one of the “Top 100 Prosperous Counties in China”, there are many so called “coal bosses”, who own luxury cars and assets worth more than hundreds of millions. However, the coal industry in this area has been declining. Coal mining and the use of water resources by the coal industry has damaged the ecosystem and in recent years one tributary of the Yellow River flowing through this area has suffered flow disruption. Crops production in some places dropped, reservoirs dried up, ground collapsed and walls of houses cracked forcing villagers to move out.