China's Ministry of Justice recently announced its findings on a controversial dispute between households in Haizhu District, Guangzhou city, Guangdong province.
According to official records, a prior dispute with their neighbor Xie led two men, Li and Liu, to plan their revenge. They installed a speaker system pressed against the shared wall between their homes. Daily, they played recordings of "eerie echoes from the mountains" and horror stories during two periods: 8:45 AM - 12 PM and 3:30 PM - 10 PM.
This relentless torment not only affected Xie's family but also disrupted the life of Cui, a neighbor living two floors away. Cui's son, who was preparing for university exams, could not concentrate due to the constant, unsettling sounds.
What most frustrated the victims was Li and Liu's method of circumventing regulations. When authorities measured the noise, the level reaching Cui's home was 36 decibels (dB), significantly lower than the urban noise violation limits of 60 dB during the day and 50 dB at night. Because the volume was only as loud as a whisper, the police could not issue administrative penalties.
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A court official investigates the incident after receiving a complaint. *baijiahao.baidu.com*
Unwilling to endure the harassment, Cui filed a petition with the Haizhu District Court, requesting an emergency injunction to prevent emotional harm to his family before initiating a formal lawsuit.
After reviewing the case, the court determined that while not violating noise thresholds, Li and Liu's actions violated others' right to peaceful living. The court issued an order prohibiting the playing of disruptive recordings. Under the supervision of authorities, the speaker equipment was dismantled, audio files deleted, and Li and Liu were required to sign a commitment not to re-offend.
The neighborly revenge case attracted millions of views when shared on the social media platform Weibo. Many expressed surprise at this bizarre and sophisticated revenge tactic.
Noise-related disputes are a common public nuisance in Chinese cities, where many apartment complexes have poor sound insulation. When mediation efforts or complaints to management prove ineffective, many residents resort to using technology for "revenge" on neighbors.
On e-commerce platforms, specialized noise revenge devices are openly sold and have become popular items. The most common is "Zhenlouqi" (floor shaker or wall-mounted vibration speaker), typically priced at a few hundred yuan.
When firmly attached to the ceiling or wall, this device uses an electric motor to create strong vibrations, low-frequency sounds, or persistent knocking that directly reverberates into adjacent apartments. With phone app connectivity and a timer function, many can easily activate this remote "torture" in the middle of the night even when not at home.
The abuse of these loophole-exploiting devices has created countless persistent "apartment wars," forcing local police forces to constantly intervene and confiscate the machines.
Nhat Minh (According to SCMP, Paper)
