Former karaoke hall is nothing to sing about

A building that houses 15 migrant families of nearly 50 people is pictured in Haikou, capital of South China's island province of Hainan, March 22, 2011. The three-storey saucer-shaped building, almost unrecognizable from its heyday as a karaoke hall, was gutted by its owner years ago in an unfinished demolition, becoming a prime example of the typical Chinese ban-la-zi, or half-finished job, and a constant eyesore for the urbanites. But for the city's growing migrant workers, it's their only affordable, if not presentable, living place. The rent is 110 yuan ($16.8) a month, but residents aren't sure if the gutted building is sound enough to live in in the first place. [Photo/Asianewsphoto]

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