Shanghai 'nail house' to be torn down

The owner of a three-storey house in Shanghai has finally agreed to sign a contract to move, the Beijing Youth Daily reported.

Mr. Xu's "nail house" stands in the middle of Huting North Rd. in Songjiang District, Shanghai, on August 31, 2017. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

The house standing in the middle of the road has been dubbed "the strongest house" as it affects traffic and has become the last house standing there.

The owner, surnamed Xu, first received notice that their house would be torn down in 2003. He refused to move because his conditions were not met.

Under the new contract, Xu will get a new house since his daughter's Hukou, or household registration, is still with the old house.

Tired of waiting for further compensation and touched by the patience of all parties involved in the matter, Xu finally signed the contract.

Xu and his family are expected to move out by September 18.

In China, buildings whose owners refuse to leave as development progresses around them are called "nail houses," since they stick out like a nail that can't be hammered down.