China's government plans to slash steel production by up to 150 million tons, which could see the loss of as many as 400,000 jobs according to state estimates. Officials point to excessive industrial capacity, a slump in demand and plunging prices as they attempt to restructure China's slowing economy. Hebei province, long regarded as China's steel belt, once accounted for nearly a quarter of the country's steel output. In recent years, state-owned steel mills have been shut down and dozens of small privately-owned plants in the area have gone bankrupt. Photos by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
A smoke stack is seen through a broken window of a building in the abandoned Qingquan Steel plant which closed in 2014.
The character for the word "emissions" is written on the wall of the abandoned Qingquan Steel plant.
Machinery sits idle in the abandoned Qingquan Steel plant.
The abandoned Qingquan Steel plant which closed in 2014 and became one of several so-called "zombie factories" in China.
Unused steel sits in the abandoned Qingquan Steel plant.
Light filters through windows in the abandoned Qingquan Steel plant.
Worker's lockers in the abandoned Qingquan Steel plant.
Buildings in the abandoned Qingquan Steel plant.
An idle control panel is seen in the abandoned Qingquan Steel plant.
Machines and equipment sit idle in the abandoned Qingquan Steel plant.