Old houses that witnessed the modern history of Guangzhou, a large city in south China, were pulled down in the wee hours of Tuesday despite a government order last year to halt demolition. The incident has sparked public anger and debate.

An old houses that witnessed the modern history of Guangzhou, a large city in south China, is pulled down on June 11, 2013. [Photo: CFP]

The garden houses built by a Hong Kong company in the 1940s on Miaogaotai, Jinlingtai and Shishu roads were home to some Chinese celebrities and high-ranking officials in those days. They featured Italian building materials and sandalwood furniture.

The demolition began at 11pm on Monday and finished the next morning. Some people living nearby were awakened by the noise, a local newspaper reported today.

"It felt like an earthquake and lasted for hours. I told them to stop but no one paid me any attention. The whole place looked like it had been bombed," an old man said.

Local authorities said they had no idea about the demolition and they were contacting the city's urban planning bureau which ordered to put the demolition on hold last year.

The paper said a real estate company, called Cuihua, won the bid to redevelop the old neighborhood and started relocation process in 2007 after the previous developer was forced to withdraw for lack of funds.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)