PHOTOS: Imperial capital Luoyang faces destruction of ancient city center

4,000-year-old imperial capital Luoyang may not be with us for much longer.

The Henan city, one of the celebrated Four Ancient Capitals of China, is about to face a wave of demolition — or as it's euphemistically known, "rescue-type protection and demolition" — that could herald a farewell to the well-preserve Old Town in the ancient heart of the city.

Official pronouncements complain of a "shantytown appearance" created by the old dwellings, and promise a "comprehensive transformation and construction" that will "make the ancient city radiate new life."

As for the extent to which this merely represents a flaccid attempt at justifying the wanton destruction of the city's irreplaceable heritage in order to enrich a few local officials via land use transfers — that remains to be seen.