Images of ecological disaster and the devastation caused to the population by the loss of the 'iron rice bowl' are far rarer.
Consider Liaozhong in north-eastern China, for example. Black rivers and the ruined remains of state-owned enterprises are testament to a ruthless industrialisation process that has since collapsed, leaving thousands of workers despondent and disillusioned.
Catherine Vuylsteke and Dieter Telemans travelled to China with the support of the Pascal Decroos Fund.