Giant Mao statue demolished in Henan

A giant golden statue of late Chinese leader Mao Zedong has been demolished due to lack of government approval in Zhushigang village, Tongxu county, Central China's Henan Province. (Photo: CFP)

The 36-meter-high golden statue of China's former leader Mao Zedong under construction in a village in Central China's Henan Province has been demolished because it did not go through government registration and approval before the construction began, the People's Daily Online reported Friday.

The statue, made of concrete and steel with golden paint on the outside, was built using donations from several local entrepreneurs and residents of Zhushigang village, which totaled about 3 million yuan ($455,000).

A local township government employee surnamed Li told the People's Daily Online on Thursday that the statue did not go through government approval.

The land resources bureau of Tongxu county, confirmed Friday that the statue had been demolished by government law-enforcement. Tongxu county administers Zhushigang village.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the death of Mao, who led the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
  Source:Global Times
8/1/16