CGTN America
In this Monday, Jan. 4, 2016 photo, scaffolding partially surrounds a 36.6-meter (120-foot) tall gold-colored statue of former Chinese leader Chairman Mao Zedong in Tongxu County in central China’s Henan province. According to Chinese state media, businessmen and local villagers contributed nearly 3 million yuan ($457,000) to build the cement statue. (Chinatopix via AP)
A gargantuan gold-painted statue of China’s founding father Mao Zedong has suddenly been demolished, apparently due to the lack of government approval.
The sculpture was located in a village in central China’s Henan province and faced the national and global spotlight after the news was reported widely. The 37-meter (121 feet) statue, which was funded by a group of entrepreneurs and local villagers and cost nearly 3 million yuan ($459,300) to build.
Photo: CFP
An official from the township government told a reporter from People’s Daily Online that the construction of the statue didn’t go through examination and approval procedures demanded by the government, although it was built on a barren land.
However relevant county government departments did not answer the reporter’s question on whether building a statue in a village needs government approval, as is required in cities.
Story by CCTV News
