Henan’s 37-meter-tall gold Mao statue, the same one that captured world headlines in the past few weeks, has been demolished just days after pictures of it were heavily shared on social media, according to reports.
Pictures of the statue are circulating online in which Mao’s hands, legs and feet appear to be removed, while a black cloth covers his head, according to the Daily Mail. The “Mega Mao” reportedly took nine months to construct and was bankrolled by a number of local entrepreneurs.
The structure, which allegedly cost RMB3 million to make, was destroyed because it had not received official government approval, according to The People’s Daily. Mao’s likeness “was not registered or approved” by the appropriate authorities, their report said. Another report suggests the destruction may be due to the fact the statue “occupied a farmer’s land.”
Another possible reason for the destruction is the fact the massive Mao was received with international mockery, according to The Guardian, with one Weibo user questioning why the RMB3 million wasn’t used to improve local education.
Netizen reaction has been generally negative, with some condemning its location in Henan, the center of a devastating famine in the late 1950s and early 60s, and others questioning the statue’s likeness to Mao.
[Cover image via Getty Images, accessed via Metro UK]
0 User Comments