Opinion | Guangzhou's historic sites vanishing faster than the eye can see them
Push for development at any cost appears to outweigh the heritage value of tombs or mansions in Guangzhou
The Pearl River Delta's historic sites are vanishing before most people get a chance to see them.
Two cases in Guangzhou, involving the demolition of old buildings and ancient tombs illustrate the sad story.
In the early hours of June 12, two mansions in the city centre were demolished by a construction team employed by a Hong Kong-based developer. The mansions, on a 2,000 square metre site, were built in the 1940s and one used to be the home of Cantonese opera master Sit Kok-sin.
The Hong Kong developer, Lai Fung Holdings, acquired the site in 2007, but the plan to transform it into a commercial-residential complex had been held up due to concerns about the heritage value of the historic buildings. Why the developer suddenly had them demolished remains unclear, but the controversial move triggered an outcry in the local media and among members of the public. Many expressed regret that Guangzhou had lost more cultural relics that harked back to a precious period of its past.
Guangzhou authorities said the demolition was illegal and promised to investigate the issue and punish those involved.
But those concerned about local culture and history were in for another shock two days later.
