Authorities planned a waste incinerator in Hangzhou which was protested by the residents many of whom form the middle class of China.Violent clashes erupted on May 10 as cars were overturned and police vehicles set on fire.

The Hangzhou demonstrations, which prompted officials to suspend construction of the incinerator, were the third such violent protest in six weeks -- a trend that challenges President Xi Jinping’s quest for social stability. The story of how poor government communication there sparked anger and then clashes with police is one being replayed across China as wealthier and better informed residents resist industrial projects more forcefully.