China: Liveblogging from ground zero

As much as it was a precedent for publicly-organized, nationally-observed mass demonstrations in China ending peacefully, the protest held in southeast China's seaside city of Xiamen—borne out of widespread public anger at the planned construction of a toxic chemical plant dangerously close to the city core—early June 1 was also a landmark for China's leading independent blogger's collective Bullog.

With a media blackout on news of the demonstration, the time, location and target turnout of one million people were spread almost exclusively by SMS, bbs postings and on blogs. The government was able to stop the SMS from spreading for several days and nearly all bbs webmasters and blog service providers were swift to delete any related discussion, leaving Bullog members free to go on to post several in-depth posts this past week looking at various angles of the situation, including one of of the key public figures lobbying against the PX plant, Southern Metropolis Daily columnist and Xiamen resident Lian Yue.

Several other Bullogers took it a step further by attending the demonstration in person, leaving one at home to post their SMS live updates straight onto Bullog, giving it a national exclusive as to what was happening minute-by-minute down on the ground which, by the afternoon of the 1st, had attracted enough readers that Bullog's host server was left unable to keep up. With Bullog inaccessible, the live SMScast was temporarily moved here, from where many of the below discussions mixed in with the live reporting were taken.

Disclaimer: this blogger was there SMS-blogging the tail end of the procession.

In addition, a video of the march has been uploaded to YouTube. Flickr users Miao Ben Zhou, Aaron Roy, hellhell007 and shgbird have also been following it very closely.

yellowgirl.jpg
Protest theme: wear a yellow ribbon.

cloudswander says:
  08:52:31
  三七:武警围住500以上人。老太太们在高呼:”拒绝污染,保护厦门!”政府门口有大批人要进去,有一个大红横幅刚刚拿出来。
  北风:有人在市政府门口高举抵制PX,保护鹭岛的横幅,警察试图抢夺。
  北风:第二条大标语:抵制px项目,保市民健康,保厦门环境。

37: about 500 Wujing are circling around. Old women are yelling: “reject pollution, protect Xiamen!” A large group of people are gathered at the Xiamen municipal government buildings and want in. A large red banner has been pulled out.
Beifeng: someone at the municipal government gate is holding up a banner which reads: resist PX, protect Egret Island, police are trying to grab it away from him.
Beifeng: A second banner reads: “resist the PX project, protect city residents’ health, protect Xiamen's environment.

  

  08:58:28
  现场人数大致超过3000人。

The number of people at the is roughly more than 3000.

  

  08:59:49
  警察很克制,市府院内大批武警待命。
  群众举着横幅,涌向市府大门,暂算克制。

Police are very self-restrained. A large number of Wujing are awaiting orders from within the city government compound.
The crowd is raising banners, surging towards the main city government gate, self-restrained overall.

aerialclose.jpg
Close to the government headquarters
  

  09:02:05
  群众推进了5米。
  现人群聚集在市府门口右侧十米处,警察三道人墙,僵持中。

The crowd has pushed forward five meters. The crowd is gathered about ten meters to the right of the city gov't gates, police are lined up three rows deep, refusing to budge.

  09:05:18
  开来要开始XX了,正往返方向走。
  ——市府的右侧反方向,沿湖滨北路向西,此举相信出乎当局预料。

Seems the march will be happening, people are now moving in the opposite direction——away from the right side of the government building, west along Hubinbei Rd. The authorities it seems were expecting this demo.

  

  09:12:16
  现场人数过万,XX之势已成!
  沿途群众纷纷加入,XX队伍越拉越长。
  手上绑着黄丝带的人也多了起来。

There's at least over 10,000 people here, the march is on!
People keep joining in along the way, the procession keeps getting longer.
More and more people can be seen wearing yellow ribbons.

  

  09:19:08
  因事先没有规划XX路线,现场有点乱,现队伍掉头沿建业路往湖滨南路行进。”要停建,不要缓建!”的口号最响亮。带头者身穿保钓服装,好玩!

Because the procession route hadn't been decided upon beforehand, things are a bit chaotic. The procession is turning around on Jianye Rd and carrying on down Hubinnan Rd. Slogans of “stop the construction, don't just postpone it!” are ringing out. People up front are wearing ‘protect the Diaoyutai islands[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senkaku_Islands]’ t-shirts. Crazy!

  09:23:59
  补充:警方的动态?
  北风:不见警察,看上去他们来不及调度。

SMS-blog dispatcher Buchong asks: what's going on with the police?
Beifeng: don't see any. Seems they weren't able to recoordinate in time.

  

  09:24:25
  移动的网络确认被关闭。(补充注:此前来信询问过网络是否通畅,北风用联通,我移动,均广州用户)

China Mobile network has definitely been shut down. (SMS-blog dispatcher Buchong notes: this was in response to me asking if the networks were smooth or not. Beifeng's on China Unicom, I'm on China Mobile, both Guangzhou accounts.)

  

  09:32:55
  沿途很多人派发打印好的标语和丝带,我的包上也绑了一根。口号:民生民主民权和谐。有警察朝我拍照,我连忙变换姿势摆了不少POSE。
  现场有七十多岁的老人说:为了下一代,不怕秋后算账,说值得!
  有群人帮着与众不同的橙红色字条,公司统一以个人的名义参加。

As it moves many people are handing out printouts and yellow ribbons. I've tied one on my bag which reads: people's livelihoods, democracy, people's rights, harmony. Police are filming me now, I'm giving them lots of poses.
There's seventy senior citizens here saying: ‘for the next generation, we don't mind settling accounts this late in life, it's worth it!’
A group of people are holding up a red banner different from the rest. A whole company came out to take part in their own name.

street.jpg
View from the footbridge

  09:40:52
  XX队伍进入白鹭洲路,人数维持在一万左右。
  XX队伍前往湖滨前集中,据了解,不少是公司全体出来参加,算出勤。
  XX队伍中尚无过激和煽动性言辞,警方沿途交管,XX和平理性。

The procession has moved onto Egret Island Rd, there remains roughly 10,000 people.
The procession is moving down Hubin Rd. From what I understand, more than a few companies have come out in full with their bosses’ approval.
The procession has yet to get sounding excited or agitated. Traffic police are following along, the procession is calm.

  

  09:48:18
  队伍马上进入湖滨南,口号:爱护厦门人人有责!
  警方根本不知道队伍的走向,只好一个个路口等着。(补充注:这是行政成本,居高不下也要破产)
  队伍左转进入湖滨南向西前进,领头的那位头戴一个防毒面具。

The procession is about to hit Hubinnan Rd. Slogan: ‘care for Xiamen, everyone has responsibility!’
The police have no idea where the procession is going. They're just keeping up, road-by-road, waiting. (SMS dispatcher Buchong notes: this is the administrative cost. If the higher-ups don't come down they're going to go bankrupt)
The procession has turned left heading west on Hubinnan Rd. The person at the front is wearing a gas mask.

 

  09:54:18
  游行队伍人数过万,沿途汽车长鸣呼应。经过建筑设计院,声势浩大!
  (补充回应网友图片问题:因我和北风手机都比较老款,发不了彩信,图片只能晚上才有了,抱歉!)
  游行队伍人口构成:多以青年为主,貌似家庭主妇的人也不少。
  (补充注:这是典型的北风视角:他在自己家楼下和家庭主妇们常打麻将,常常赢人家钱,现在亲切感油然而生)

There's more than 10,000 people now, cars passing by are hollering. Passing the architecture institute, it's massive now!
(Dispatcher Buchong responds to a reader's question regarding photos: Beifeng and I are using old cellphone models, cannot send images. They'll be coming tonight, sorry!)
The procession is comprised mainly of young people, but it seems there are many housewives here too.
(Buchong notes: this is classic Beifeng: he often plays Mah Jong downstairs from his building, usually wins people's money, he must be filled with appreciation now).

  

  10:01:18
  现场唱起了一首与鼓浪屿有关的歌。队伍已经到了后滨路口。
  市民买了水放在路边,给游行的人解渴,场面感人。
  队伍走完湖滨北路口。

They're singing a catchy local island song. The procession has already moved to the Hubin intersection.
Locals are buying water and placing it on the side of the street, handing it out to marchers to quench their thirst. Very moving sight.
The procession has moved beyond the Hubinbei intersection.

  

  10:09:40
  貌似政府的工作人员要求队伍去大会堂,但队伍行进的目标可能是火车站。

It seems the government personnel are demanding the procession move to the exhibition center, but the processing might be going to the train station.

  

  10:17:27
  过了后埭西路,队伍情绪亢奋。
  厦门天气很热,队伍在骄阳暴晒之中,沿途不断有人送水进来。

Passed Houdaixi Rd, emotions are riding high.
It's very hot in Xiamen today, the procession is burning in the scorching sun, all along people keep passing out water.

  

  10:21:03
  游行已经两个小时,大家都有点累了。

The procession has been going for two hours already, people are starting to get a little tired.

  

  10:24:43
  经过金榜路,目标确定是火车站。

Passed Jinbang Rd, the destination is definitely the train station.

  

  10:25;55

  现在游行人数增加到两万,新加入的人群原在火车站附近等候

There are 20,000 people taking part in the march now. Newcomers it turns out were waiting at the train station.

  

  10:27:17
  警方只是远远管制交通,貌似便衣的人试图影响行走路线

Police are just controlling traffic from a distance. It seems the undercover cops are trying to change the route.

  10:31:11
  现场一个警察在与同伴的对讲中称不知道游行队伍的行进路线,出租司机也拿出手机在拍摄现场照片。

An officer here just said to his colleague they don't know where the procession is going. A taxi driver has stopped, pulled out his cellphone and is taking pictures now.

  

 10:33:46
  必须停建喊声云,现场再度亢奋

‘Must stop the construction’ people are screaming to the heavens, the scene is very excited now.

  

  10:35:59
  仍在湖滨南路,临近富山路口。

Still on Hubinnan Rd, approaching Fushan intersection.

  10:37:40
  现场开始响起高喊何立峰下台的口号。

People are yelling loudly for [mayor] He Lifeng to resign.

Then reader cloudswander says:

另外有一支游行队伍正从主干道嘉禾路经过莲坂,人很多,上班的人们的情绪也都被调动起来了,很多人从公交车上的士上冲下来加入游行队伍.

Also, another procession group is now moving from Jiahe [the main] street pas Lianban. Many people, lots of office workers are getting riled up. Many people are jumping off busses and out of taxis to join in the procession.

More updates copied and pasted from SMS dispatcher Buchong's Bullog page:

cloudswander says:

 10:46:11
  队伍在新世界百货前,没有再往火车站方向走。

The procession is in front of New World Dept. Store, is no longer heading towards the train station.

  

  10:47:05
  队伍沿嘉禾路往北行进。
  队伍长约300米,人数不详。

Moving north along Jiahe Rd. now.
The procession is at least 300 meters long, people count unclear.

  10:51:19
  队伍在转盘处发生分歧,后队换了方向,前队停着没动。

The procession was split up as it turned. The tail is rerouting, the head has stopped to wait for them.

  

  10:53:09
  后队改变主意,跟了上来,仍往北走。

The tail has changed its mind and is now moving north following the head.

  

  10:55:48
  北风有中暑迹象,昨晚从广州到厦门一夜未睡好。

Beifeng is starting to get heatstroke. Last night on the bus from Guangzhou to Xiamen he didn't sleep a wink.

  
cloudswander says:

///失去前方的联系近一个小时,55555///

Lost contact with the front line for nearly one hour already. Wooooooh…

现在全部的人都对着市府大门高喊为人民服务

Now all the people are standing in front of the city government gate yelling: ‘serve the people!’

游行队伍冲破了警察如抗洪般的人墙,唱这国歌正与广场静坐人群汇合。

The procession has charged through the police like a flood over a wall. Singing the Chinese national anthem[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G6P6foasUA] they've joined up with people sitting quietly in the square.

从市政府里有约一百多武警跑步向游行队伍的方向。有六辆空军用卡车从那边开回来停在市府门口。

There are now about a 100 Chinese armed police running from within the city government headquarters towards the procession. Six air force trucks are driving over and have stopped at the entrance to the city government building.

一部警车停在路边放广播,说”天气越来越热,请大家尽快撤离”。在场有人说市内的朋友讲游行有一万来人。

One police car has stopped by the road and is playing this recording: “the weather is getting hotter. Would everyone please disperse as soon as possible.” One person at the scene says his friend downtown says there are over 10,000 people.

cloudswander says:
www.56.com/u56/v_MTQyNDE1MjU.html
一小段视频

A short video [since deleted]

luanyu says:
也补充牛博北风的直播:

Here's some more of Beifeng's live updates at Bullog:

10:59:47
捡废气瓶子的拾荒者跟在队伍后面,他们也收获颇丰。
现在队伍看来是要回到政府门口和那边的市民汇合。

Rubbish collectors are following behind the procession picking up discarded bottles, bound to be making a big fortune today.
Seems the procession is going to head back to the government building and join up with residents there.

11:01:52
现队伍转入莲岳路,可惜连岳不在。
有几位打工者,凑钱买了两箱水送给游行的市民,他们说身上只剩下10元钱了。

The procession has turned onto Lianyue Rd. Too bad Lian Yue's not here.
Two workers have put their money together and bought two boxes of water for the marchers. They say they've only got ten RMB left on them now.

11:08:44
听到一个警察正在打出的电话,他们已经知道市民的路线,正在作部署。路旁的市民拍着手给游行市民鼓劲。
路旁有大帮小朋友呼吁:”加油!加油!!”(三七)

Just overheard a police officer on the phone: “they already know the route now, currently deploying.” People watching from the sides of the road are clapping and encouraging the marchers.
On the side of the road is a large group of children yelling, “keep going! keep going!”

11:10:39
队伍转往湖滨西。员当街道办门口几车警察在车里待命。市民情绪高涨。
奔跑前后拍照,要抽筋了。

The procession has turned onto Hubinxi. Police are sitting in cars awaiting orders. Citizens’ emotions are swelling now.
Running back and forth taking pictures, I'm about to cramp up.

11:20:50
一批警车经过,有人发信息说队伍前面有点紧张(三七)

A bunch of police cars just zoomed past. Someone up front just sent a message saying things are tense up front.

11:28:42
大批警员在市政府四周,游行队伍已经回到政府附近。
大批武警也出动了。
市民唱起团结就是力量,距离武警只有100米左右。
消防水龙也在待命。

A large number of police have surrounded the government headquarters, the procession has already returned near to city hall.
A large number of police are moving now.
People are singing ‘solidarity is strength’, armed military police are standing just about 100 meters away.
A firehose is standing ready.

11:32:19
游行被警车阻止了(三七)
现场发生冲撞,武警被冲散

The procession is being blocked by the police
There's a struggle, people are charging the military police.

11:33:59
武警第二道防线被冲散。
人们高喊反对暴力
武警群众都在集结形势危急

A second military police blockade has been charged through
People are screaming ‘oppose any violence’
The military police are gathering into a defence formation

11:37
湖滨北路,发生推搡,有些人受小伤,高喊”反对暴力”(三七)
冲散处在湖东桥头,队伍继续前进。
队伍已经过了七星路口,目标是市政府。

Hubinbei Rd, violent pushing, some people sustaining minor injuries, ‘oppose violence’ being yelled loudly
The second half of the procession has broken through at Hudong Bridge, the procession is moving forward again
Moved past Qixing Rd. now, heading for the city government.

youdude.jpg
You better e-mail me a copy of that.

原帖地址:http://www.bullog.cn/blogs/buchong/archives/66717.aspx

Original url for the live SMS updates

cloudswander says:
///太感谢啦啦啦啦啦啦!!///

Thank you SOOOOO much!!

非常整齐响亮。
何立峰,出来!何立峰,下台!
现在的口号是不要缓建!必须停建!

Very crowded and noisy
‘He Lifang [the mayor], get out here! He Lifang, step down!’
The slogan now is: ‘no postponement! It must be stopped!’

Here cloudswander posts a link to the to a 163.com news story on the PX plant from noon on June 1[news.163.com/07/0601/11/3FTB7B9M0001124J.html] which he praises but mentions nothing of the march currently underway.

Back to Beifeng's live updates from the ground:

cloudswander says:
11:40:22
附近好像有武警调动。
队伍喊出明天八点不见不散的口号。
特贸路口有警力,有群众捡石头被旁人制止。

Seems military police are mobilizing nearby.
The procession is yelling ‘be back here tomorrow at 8am or be square’
Police stationed at Temao Rd., a group of rock collectors have been

11:45:00
群众亢奋,局面难以预料。
武警再筑人墙,双方步步紧逼。
现场高唱国歌。
武警人墙再度被冲破。

The group is worked up, the situation is unpredictable.
Armed police have barricaded people again, stepping forward forcing them back.
People are singing the national anthem.
The military police barricade has been broken through again.

11:52:07
双方现在处于僵持中。
在湖滨北路,又被强行阻止了(三七)
武警的防线已经被冲散。
成功冲了100多军人两次,马上有第三次,人人在叫”反对暴力!反对暴力!”(三七回顾冲防线)

Both sides refuse to budge.
At Hubinbei, being forcefully held back again.
The military police line has been broken through again
The second time the procession has broken through the army barricade, third time coming soon, people are chanting ‘oppose and violence! oppose any violence!’

11:57:13
市民成功抵达市政府门口,高喊”何立峰,下台!”的口号。
警力死守政府大门,防止冲入。

The procession arrives successfully at the front gate of the government hall, yelling loudly ‘He Lifeng, resign!’
The police are clinging to the front gate, holding back the charges.

现在回到市政府,军警特别多,人们在疯叫市长”下台”,听不清名字,又向军警叫”为人民服务!””保卫厦门!””PX必须停止”(三七)

Back at the city government, soldiers and police everywhere, people yelling madly for the mayor to resign, yelling at the police and soldiers: ‘serve the people! protect Xiamen!’ ‘PX must be stopped!’

antipx.jpg
Oppose PX, Protect Xiamen

“何立峰,出来!”(三七)

‘He Lifai, get out here!’

唱国歌了!市政大楼上面挂了个很大的红色”为人民服务”牌。

Singing the national anthem. There's a large red ‘Serve The People’ plaque up top of the government building.

12:11
双方在市政府门口僵持,北风三七在这里遇到了几个牛博网网友,他们正在聊天喘息之中。厦门天气很热。稍息片刻。

Both sides at the government headquarters gate refusing to budge. Beifeng and Feng37 have met up with some netfriends here, chatting and catching their breath now. Very hot in Xiamen today, taking a rest.

Aether Woo Pro User says:
im watching you.
plz continue

MingDami says:

支持厦门市民的周五集体散步行动!

Support Xiamen residents’ mass march today!

reverdie says:

上面那个实况报道的bullblog网页,我亲眼看着被封

The above live reports are from Bullog, but it seems to be blocked now.

reverdie says:

整个牛博都上不去了

All of Bullog is inaccessible now.

to reverdie

这是为什么要使用伟大的flickr的原因
flickr的作者肯定没有想到flickr还能够这样用

That's why people need to use the great Flickr.
Flickr's creators probably never thought it would ever be used like this.

Aether Woo Pro User says:

www.bullog.cn
应该已经被拔掉服务器电源了

Bullog's probably already blown the breakers at the host server.

cloudswander says:

我本人坚决反对冲击市政府的行为,授人以柄啊。坐坐就可以,冲击不解决任何问题。

I'm personally opposed to people rushing the city government gate. You're just giving them reason to act and charging doesn't solve a single problem.

Cloudswander continues copying live SMS updates from Bullog:

cloudswander says:
12:46:31
不少上班族中午休息时间赶了过来,人越来越多,市政府发了个新闻稿,说环评要半年,希望大家以正常渠道反映情况。

Many office staff off for lunch are rushing over, more and more people showing up. The city government has released some news: an environmental impact evaluation will take half a year, they hope everyone will return to normal.
cloudswander says:

本站已经突破1万的点击了,在短短的几个小时之内

Bullog has already seen over 10,000 hits in just a few short hours.

13:02:06
有不足一千人在市政府门口唱歌,其他的人在对面人行道围观。
北风三七现在去午餐。

Just under a thousand people singing at the city government gates, others are watching from the sidewalk across the street.
Beifeng and Feng37 have gone for lunch.

13:20
现在人没有早上的多
部队比较多
现场在喊何立峰下场
一些警察还主动说,闹吧,还是有效果的.只是起围拦作用并不怎么阻碍民众

Not as many people now as in the morning
Quite a few soldiers here
People are calling for [mayor] He Lifeng to come down and meet them
Some police are telling people to make a racket if they choose, it's working. They're just surrounding people now, not blocking them.

13:35:22
北风等刚刚吃了点东西,现正买水和几位牛博网网友一起赶往现场。

Beifeng has just finished eating, is now buying some water and hurrying back to the scene with some Bullogers.

13:43:32
游行队伍主力离开了市政府门口,准备沿中山路去厦门大学。

The main force of the procession is leaving the city government and is preparing to move towards Zhongshan Rd. and then Xiamen University.

Dong Yan says:

Bless our poor people…..

cloudswander says:
具网友说
厦门大学这两天再考试……

One netfriend says
Xiamen University is having finals today…

13:52:21
离开市政府了。游行队伍到了市政府门口就很兴奋,便衣警察和武警很紧张。制服警告我们几个老外,说再不离开就抓我们。两个被查了护照的老外被登记了护照号码,被要求删除相机中的全部照片。他们看到警方手上有我的护照复印件。离开市政府时军警比参与游行的人还多。(三七)

We've left the city government. The marchers were riled up at the gate and the undercovers, police and army police are quite nervous. The uniforms kept warning us foreigners saying they'd arrest us if we didn't leave. Two of us had our passports checked and passport numbers recorded, as well as being forced to delete all the photos off their camera. They said they saw the police have a photocopy of my passport. When we left the city gov't hall there were more soldiers and police present than protesters.

cloudswander says:
有网友称收到一条短信
曰:通过正常渠道向市政府反映,我们一定将你们的意见和建议转达给环保专家。。。
来源:09599移动之声
政府用心良苦啊

One netfriend has received an SMS:
If you go through normal channels to give the government feedback, we guarantee we'll share your opinions and suggestions with environmental experts…
Source: 09599 Voice of China Mobile
The government cares…so sweet.

Back to the Bullog live updates:

13:58:59
队伍约两千人从湖滨南路一路向西行进。
队伍到了环保局门口高喊口号:”保卫厦门,拒绝污染!”
一个带红领巾的小朋友说她也想参加游行,但学校不放假。

About two thousand people in the procession, moving west from Hubinnan Rd.
The procession arrived at the Environmental Bureau yelling: ‘protect Xiamen, reject pollution!’
One boy wearing a red Young Pioneers neckscarf says he'd like to join in but his school has no day off.

Then cloudswander says:

再也找不到任何信息的来源了,所以地方都被封锁了。仿佛落入黑洞。前方的朋友们,千万不要发生任何意外啊。
今天进行到这个程度已经是极好的,政府临时让大家游行,可算开18年来未有之局面了,如果因冲动而失去双方妥协之可能,所剩只能是后悔。
本站已经超过40000view了

You won't find any other information sources, the whole area been sealed off. It's like a black hole. Friends down on the front line, no matter what don't get hurt.
That it's gone this far today is extraordinary. The government has permitted the demonstration, something that hasn't happened in 18 years. If you rush in you might lose the compromise both sides have come to and you'll regret it.
Bullog has already gotten over 40,000 views now.

cloudswander says:

人群刚才到了轮渡,引起交通堵塞近20分钟…

They've moved down to the ferries now, causing traffic to back up for twenty minutes.

14:45:12
游行队伍高喊”保卫厦门,加入我们!”动员市民参与,人数有所增加。
回观整个游行,觉得队伍是无组织有纪律,气氛和天气都超热,与队伍中的积极分子有接触,但上午的几个骨干,有些现在已经没有走在队伍前面了。
刚刚听警察说,要全力防堵队伍进入厦大。

The procession is shouting: ‘protect Xiamen! Join us!’ mobilizing citizens to join in. Numbers are increasing.
Looking back at the whole procession, it seems there's been an unorganized amount of discipline. The mood and the weather are both super hot, there have been some extremists in with the procession. The main ones from the morning, however, are no longer moving at the front.
Just heard a police officer say: we have to use all our power to stop them from getting into Xiamen University.

15:13:55
队伍经过海军医院时,为避免打扰病人,队伍自动停止呼喊口号。非常理性。
队伍左传到了政海路,即将右转去厦大。

When the procession passed in front of the Naval Hospital, to avoid disturbing any patients, people automatically stopped chanting slogans. Seems sensible.
The procession is turning left onto Zhenghai Rd. One more turn to the right and we'll be at Xiamen University.

15:18:19
北风感到身体疲劳,喝了一听功能饮料,又觉得身体能坚持,但手机的电量能否坚持是个问题。

Beifeng feels very tired. He's drinking some power drinks and thinks he'll make it. His only problem now is not much power left in his cellphone.

15:28:58
队伍现在行进在大生里,离厦大约两站路,幸好是下坡,否则这支疲惫的文明之师要遭遇大自然的严峻考验了。
口号现在是:保卫厦门,拒绝劈叉!(PX)

The procession is now just two bus stops away from the university. The slogan now: ‘Protect Xiamen! Refuse PX!’

15:43:11
游行队伍现在走到理工大学思明校区。未见有警力部署。
学校大门紧闭,听到一个貌似学校领导的人在打电话,要求看住每一个学生。
有学生要出来,但校领导在力阻。队伍在校门口高呼口号。
没有效果。门全关了。理工大学生基本被关在校内了。

The procession is not at the Siming campus of the science and technology university. No police deployments to be seen.
The school gate is locked tight. Inside what seems to be a school administrator is making a phone call, telling someone to watch over every single student.
Some students want to come out but the administrator blocks them. The procession starts shouting slogans at the campus gate.
No use, the gate is still shut. The students are all essentially being locked up inside the school.

15:58:18
马上就要到厦大的校门口了。有学生迎出来加入游行队伍。
队伍抵达校门口,学校封门了。大家准备就地静坐。
人们高喊开门,保安护门,未见警察。

Almost at the gate of Xiamen University. Some students jump and join the procession.
The procession arrives at the gate, it's locked shut. Everyone prepares to sit silently.
Some people start shouting for them to open the gate. The security guard protects the door, no police to be seen.

16:03:19
市民在游说学生参加,看来可能性不大。。。

There doesn't seem to be much chance that any university students will join in the march…

16:22:17
现场有人通知明天早上八点市政府门口集中。

Someone receives word that at 8am Saturday morning another protest will be held at the city government gate.

16:26:50
厦大门口人群渐渐散去,估计今天到此告一段落了。
厦大的老师进不了校门,意见很大。

People start drifting away from the Xiamen University gate. It seems today's events are over.
University professors are unable to enter the school, making a big noise about it. People start drifting away from the Xiamen University gate. It seems today's events are over.
University professors are unable to enter the school, making a big noise about it.

55 comments

  • antipx

    Thank you so much, John, for everything you’ve done for Xiamen! For envionment!

  • Twelve noon 06/02 update:

    Bullog blogger Beifeng (North Wind) was back downtown Xiamen early this morning and is continuing, via co-Bulloger Buchong, with the live SMS updates from the second day of protest:

    08:31:43
    八点,出租车只能停在湖滨北特贸路口。通往市政府方向的道路已经封锁。全由民警和武警把守,不让行人通过。
    特贸路口有一个肉菜市场,从早餐店旁的小路进去,无人把守,可通过封锁线。
    市府前警力密布,不许行人停留。
    未见市民聚集。
    但见到三三两两皮肤黑红的市民走过,相信是参加过昨天活动的人士。
    At 8 o’clock the taxi could only stop at the intersection of Hubinbei and Temao Rds. Roads leading up to the city government have been sealed off. Police and military police are standing guard, not letting anyone in.
    On Temao Rd. there’s a wet market; beside the shop where I had breakfast nobody’s standing guard and I was able to enter, but soon came across a barrier.
    The front of city hall is packed with police, pedestrians are not being allowed to stop.
    No people can be seen gathering.
    Though residents sunburnt black and red in groups of twos and threes are passing by, I believe they’re participants from yesterday’s march.

    09:01
    现场有不少突破封锁线进来的市民,但都很分散,暂时无法聚集。
    Quite a few citizens have broken through the barrier, but they’re quite scattered. Unable to gather for the moment.

    09:21
    昨天走在最前面的几个成功突破封锁进到核心区域,有人在打电话叫人过来。
    Yesterday several of the people marching at the front who successfully broke through the blockade have come down, someone is making a phone call calling for others to come.

    09:44
    会展方面的消息,有近两百人聚集。
    市府突破封锁的人已经陆续撤离,赶去汇合。
    News from the exhibition hall, nearly two hundred people have gathered.
    Those who broke through the barrier [at city hall] have already moved away, rushing to join together.

    10:01
    确认会展附近有人游行示威,人数近千人。
    还有消息称另一支队伍正走向华林方向。
    市民将会绕会展中心游行。
    现场有警察,黄色警戒线。还有很多来看汽车博览会的。现场大喇叭播放流行音乐,试图掩盖人们的口号。
    人越来越多,据说还有个队伍赶过来。
    It’s confirmed people are demonstrating near the exhibition hall, nearly a thousand people.
    There’s also word that another detachment of demonstrators is now moving towards Hualin.
    City residents are going to circle around the meeting center to demonstrate.
    At the scene are police, yellow caution tape. There’s also a lot of people having come to see the auto exhibition today. Pop music is being played over the loudspeaker in an attempt to cover up the sound of people’s slogans.
    More and more people, it’s said another group of demonstrators is coming.

    10:13
    人群停在会展D区门前,与大批警察僵持数秒。口号响亮,人越来越多。
    现停在四号门口,喊口号,“必须停建!不要缓建!”
    今天的队伍似乎多了许多年轻面孔。不敢说是学生,很多都是昨天没法出来的公司职员。
    The crowd has stopped in front of Area D of the exhibition hall, standing toe-to-to with the police for a few seconds. Slogans are ringing out, more people keep coming.
    Now they’ve stopped in front of Gate 4, shouting slogans: “construction must be stopped! Not just postponed!”
    There seem to be a lot more young faces at today’s procession. Hard to say if they’re students. Many of them are office staff who couldn’t come yesterday.

    10:28
    会展现场人员以白领为主,都是因为昨天上班没法出来的人。
    人数约五千,完成集结
    目标市政府,正在莲前路上。

    现场又有市民送来饮用水。
    Most of the people gathered at the exhibition hall are white collars, all those unable to come out yesterday because of work.
    Around 5,000 people now, the crowd is not growing.
    Target is the city government, on Lianqian Rd. now.

    Again local citizens are handing out bottled water.

    10:43
    队伍沿莲前大道往莲坂,目标市政府,队伍不断呼口号鼓励市民加入。
    北风注意到队伍中一个胖女孩,中气十足,带头喊了一路口号。

    队伍有些混乱,有的人唱国歌,有的人喊口号。
    队伍将进入莲前西路。
    The procession is heading along Lianqian Ave. towards Lianban, aiming towards the city government. The procession continues to shout slogans encouraging people to join in.
    Beifeng notices one overweight girl among the marchers, full of energy, leading people in chanting slogans all the way.

    The procession has become a bit chaotic. Some people are singing the national anthem, others are chanting slogans.
    The procession has entered Lianqianxi Rd.

    10:54
    现场有戴口罩墨镜的人士出席,不断有人送水过来。
    队伍后面跟着五辆警车。

    天气非常炎热,人流已过洪莲路口,经过瑞景商业广场。
    碰到一些昨天的熟悉面孔,随着进入市中心,队伍有增大趋势。

    “厦门是我家,爱护靠大家!”有人带头喊。
    People wearing masks and sunglasses have appeared on the scene, people continue handing out water.
    Behind the procession are five police cars.

    It’s extremely blistering hot today, the crowd of people has already passed the corner of Honglian Rd. and Ruijing shopping mall.
    Have come across some familiar faces from yesterday, following them into the city center. The procession is growing larger.

    “Xiamen is our home! Protecting it depends on everyone!” someone is leading people in chanting.

    11:23
    队伍经过云顶中路。
    The procession has passed Yundingzhong Rd.

    11:40
    队伍已经走过金尚路口,进入莲前西路,人数约三千。
    市政府方面传来的消息,有几百人聚集。
    The procession has already passed Jinshang Rd., is entering Lianqianxi Rd., around 3,000 people now.
    Information just in from the city government building, several hundred people gathered there now.

  • Continued updates keep SMSing in from Beifeng, live in downtown Xiamen. Many commenters at Buchong’s Bullog space are expressing serious concern that students will begin to take part, Monday being what it is.

    12:06
    两支队伍再过五分钟即可汇合,群情激昂。
    两支队伍在莲前西路水务大厦前会师,目标市政府。
    队伍高喊“目标市政府!”,目前人数约四千人。
    预计线路:莲前西–湖滨南–白鹭–市府
    北风同志很疲惫,今天的温度同样在30度左右,从早晨开始聚集的市民,到现在应该都很累了。接下来的路会更加难走一些。
    Two arms of the procession will merge in about five minutes, the mood of the crowd is very heated.
    The two processions joined up in front of the hydro building on Lianqianxi Rd. They’re moving for the city government.
    The crowd is yelling: “to city government!” Around four thousand people here at present.
    An estimate of the coming route: Lianqianxi–Hubinnan–Bailu–city government
    Comrade Beifeng is very exhausted. Today’s temperature is around 30 degrees. Citizens have been gathering since first thing this morning until now and must be very tired. The coming few parts will be much more difficult.

    12:18
    即将进入湖滨南,现场高声呼吁市民加入。
    相信警方会在白鹭洲路设置人墙,队伍决定改道前往火车站。
    We’re about to reach Hubinnan, people are calling loudly now for residents to join in.
    Believing the police will have set up a human roadblock on Bailuzhou Rd., the procession changes course towards the train station.

    12:36
    队伍即将到达火车站,由于天气太热,有人提议休息。整装后再发。
    队伍在厦门火车站前高喊口号,稍作停留后继续前行。
    一些人还没吃饭,天气酷热,北风形容为,与自己抗争。
    Immediately arriving at the train station. Because today is too hot, some people are calling for a rest. Will continue after people have gotten refreshments.
    The procession is in front of Xiamen train station shouting slogans, stopping to let those behind catch up.
    Some people still haven’t eaten. It’s broiling today. Beifeng describes it as people struggling with themselves [to stay it out].

    12:48
    队伍继续行进,沿嘉禾路向西,将寻找适当位置转到湖滨南。
    The march carries forth, west on Jiahe Rd., looking for a suitable place to turn onto Hubinnan.

    12:55
    经过后埭西路,有人疑似中暑,被同伴扶出队伍。
    队伍右转进入湖滨中路,有树荫可供休息。
    Just past Houdai Rd. someone seems to have heatstroke and is being propped up by fellow paraders.
    The procession turns right onto Hubinzhong Rd. There’s shade beneath the trees for us to rest.

    13:07
    队伍没有停步迹象,直接走向白鹭洲路。
    现场有人派发藿香正气水,防中暑。
    湖中桥未见人墙。
    The procession shows no signs of stopping, heading straight for Bailuzhou Rd.
    People are handing out herbal medicine and soft drinks, to prevent heatstroke.
    No signs of a human blockade on Hubinzhong.

    13:26
    前面有大批警察戒备,未见武警。
    前面有几层武警人墙戒备,距离200米。
    距离100米,对峙。
    最前面是警察,后面是一排水马,后面至少四排武警。
    A large number of police on alert ahead, no signs of military police.
    Ahead now are several rows of military police forming a human blockade, about 200 meters ahead.
    One hundred meters now. Stand-off.
    At the front are police, behind us are large plastic barriers and at least four rows of military police.

    13:34
    发生第一次推撞,未能成功。
    The first round of shoving, unsuccessful.

    13:36
    再次冲撞,有人扔水瓶
    Rushing the blockade again, people are throwing water bottles.

    13:39
    武警主动放弃第一道防线。
    冲撞太过激烈,怕人受伤。不过马上再筑起一道人墙。
    现场人多了很多,有五千人左右。
    The military police give up the first blockade.
    People are pushing too intensely, they’re afraid someone might get hurt. Though they immediately form another human barricade.
    There are a lot more people here now, around 5,000.

    13:41
    武警在市政府前筑起最后一道人墙。
    The military police have formed one last human barricade in front of the city government.

    13:43
    市民是善良而幽默的。
    现场一幕:
    市民在树下休息,武警在享受日光浴。
    The citizens are being good and keep humors about them.
    From the scene:
    people are resting below the trees. The military police are enjoying the sun.

  • And more. The protest remains peaceful:

    13:49
    据北风现场观察,武警在市政府前的最后一道人墙,象征意义多于实质 。
    人墙后是不设防的大草坪。
    According to Beifeng’s observations at the scene, the military police’s human barrier seems to more symbolic than indicative of anything substantial.
    Behind the human barricade is unguarded lawn.

    13:55
    一些市民从草坪上走过去了,一小半
    武警未见行动,大家在观察武警的反应
    Some locals are coming over from the grass lawn, just a few
    The military police have yet to act, everyone’s just watching their reponses.

    13:59
    全过来了,武警撤了,队伍进逼到市政府门口,武警围成直径约二十米的半圆保卫市政府。
    Everyone’s come over, the military police have dispersed. The procession is pressing in towards the government headquarters gate. The military police have formed a semi-circle roughly twenty meters in diameter to protect the city government building.

    14:02
    武警形成方阵,双方再次对峙。
    政府准备广播通告,现场唱起国歌。
    The military police have formed a phalanx, both sides are facing off again.
    The government is preparing to broadcast an announcement, the crowd launches into singing the national anthem.

    14:07
    市民开始唱“说句心里话”,对武警进行心理战。
    现场持续对峙,理性的市民不会冲击政府机关。
    不断有市民送药品进来,北风同志也顺势灌下一瓶正气水。
    The people having started singing ‘say what you’re really thinking’, trying psychological warfare against the military police.
    The scene remains at a face-off, hopefully the people won’t charge into the government building.
    People keep handing medicines out. Comrade Beifeng takes the opportunity to slam down a soft drink.

    14:12
    在队伍背后,出现警察调动场面,像是要包围市民。
    有市民拿标语在武警前挥舞,欢呼声不绝。
    不过双方仍处于对峙状态
    北风暂离,在附近吃饭休息。
    Before and behind the procession police are maneuvering, it seems they’re going to encircle the locals.
    People are waving banners in front of the military police, the cheers just keep coming.
    Although both sides remain in face-off mode
    Beifeng has stepped away, getting something to eat and taking a rest nearby.

    14:28
    市府门前是大草坪,但警力似乎不足以驱散现场市民
    一个女孩对市府领导高喊:不要缓建,必须停建!相信领导一直在市府内,只是没出来对话。市民高喊对话未见反应。
    现场高唱国歌,不断有人打电话要亲朋好友前来。
    部分民众砸矿泉水,但只是个别行为,立即被制止
    In front of the government building gate is a large grass field, but police forces don’t seem to be strong enough to break up the crowd.
    One girl is shouting at government leaders: ‘don’t postpone construction, stop the construction! It’s believed that government leaders have been inside all along, only none of them are coming out to discuss. Locals are shouting but have yet to see any response.
    The crowd starts singing the national anthem loudly, and people keep phoning their families and friends telling them to come down.
    Some people in the crowd are smashing bottles, but only a few individuals who were immediately stopped.

    14:32
    开始现场广播,定性是非法集会游行,要求市民尽快离开现场,不要被敌对势力所利用。
    “广大人民群众:
    昨日今日两日,我市连续两天发生非法集和游行。现在在市政府门口聚集,是违法行为。市公安局呼吁围观的群众及不明真相的群众尽快离开,不要被违法分子所利用。“
    A broadcast has begun declaring this illegal assembly, demanding people leave the scene as soon as possible, telling them not to be taken advantage of by hostile forces:
    “To the masses of the people:
    Yesterday and today our city has seen two days of illegal gathering and demonstrating. Gathering now at the city government gate is illegal behavior. The city Public Security Department calls for the crowd of spectators and those with no understanding of the truth to leave quickly. Do not be taken advantage of by those who break the law.”

    14:52
    天很黑,暴雨在即。
    现在反复广播,请围观的群众尽快离开。
    警察开始驱赶,暴雨临城,市民顺势涌入大会堂下避雨。
    The sky is very black, it’s about to rain.
    They’re repeating the broadcast now, asking the crowd of spectators to leave quickly.
    The police are have begun trying to drive people out but black rainclouds cover the city and people are just ducking under the People’s Meeting Hall to get out of the rain.

    15:02
    现场警民力量对比悬殊,暴雨将市民困住。
    可能会有危险。
    警察武警全体浇了个精湿。
    People are vastly outnumbered by the police strength and are stuck due to the rain.
    There could be some danger.
    Police and military police are getting completely soaked.

  • 小白

    辛苦了,三七,最新消息怎么样,可怜牛博了。

  • Bullog is having serious server issues for the past few hours, but this just got through:

    15:37
    警力比群众多大概一倍,现在下暴雨,他们封死了入口和出口把群众包围起来,有人被打,有拍伤口。包括我,劈手打头,没伤。
    北风已离开现场,里面的情况等待短信出来。
    Police outnumber the crowd at least by double, now it’s raining. They’ve sealed off the entrances and exits and rounded up the people. Someone has been hurt, I’ve got a picture of the wound. People, including myself, are being clubbed, but we’re okay. [thanks Cheung for pointing out the translation mistake.]
    Beifeng has left the protest site and we await SMSes telling of the situation inside.

    15:47
    据北风电话了解,至少四人皮外伤,救护车已到,市民可离开现场,没有阻拦。
    According to Beifeng’s phone call just now, at least four people have external injuries and the ambulance has just arrived. Demonstrators are able to leave the scene, are not being prevented from leaving.

    北风对今天游行的总结:一,游行构成人员与昨天不同,多是昨天未能出来的白领一族。除了受控的单位人员,其他群体成员都有体现。二,准备更充分。例如现场有卡片列出口号,避免乱喊一气。三,警方算是克制。第一道防线冲撞两次后主动撤离,第二道防线象征多于实质。最后警力优势显示时,也没有动手抓人。只有零星冲突及造成几人很小的挫伤。四,仍有零星市民扔水瓶,大多算是克制。在警方驱离时,也没有坚持对抗,表现得比较理性。我认为,这两天的游行,厦门市民达到了目的。一个是展示了民意的力量,二是在各主要街道的游行对唤醒市民对此项目的关注起了作用。

    这次游行的重要意义在于,执政当局已经穷尽一切可能的手段,也没有能成功压制。这对其他地方的群体性抗争起了示范作用。这也将逼使执政当局反思其执政方式方法,而不能一昧蛮干。
    Beifeng’s summary of today’s proceedings: 1) the march was comprised of different kinds of people from yesterday. Most of them were office workers unable to come out yesterday. Except for people whose work places didn’t let them come yesterday, no other groups turned out. 2) Preparations were very sufficient. For example, today there were cards with slogans printed on them, to prevent people chanting different slogans at the same time. 3) Police were restrained enough. After the first barrier was charged twice, they broke apart. The second barrier was mostly for show. In the end when police obviously have the upper hand, they still didn’t move to arrest people, only half-hearted charges which left a few people with very minor injuries. 4) The occassional person would throw a water bottle but they were able to restraine themselves for the most part. When the police began to drive people out, they didn’t insist on resisting and acted quite reasonable. I feel that through the protests over these two days, the people of Xiamen have achieved their goal. One was to display the strength of the people’s will, and the second to parade through every major street to wake the city government up into paying more attention to the PX project.

    The main significance of these protests is in that the authorities tried every method they had in their power and were still unable to suppress them. This will serve as a model for collective oppositions in other places. This also stands to force the authorities into thinking over the ways through which it executes its power, to realize that it can’t blindly act recklessly.

  • cheung

    according to the chinese , the meaning should be ,”someone’s got hurt , there is a picture about the wounds “.
    “i was hit on my head , but it didn’t hurt me . “

  • mahathir_fan

    This is normal. People in Communist nations protest all the time.

  • 入木

    Thanks so much for the broadcasting, which we can not see from other Chinese blogs!!!

    We support this protest just because we want to live safely here in Xiamen, which used to be one of the best place for living.

    All supports from us….

    !!!!!!!!!!!

  • da

    Wuxi Citizen should learn from you.

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