On Tuesday, two historical structures were bulldozed around midnight by real estate developers without the authorization for the reconstruction of the old city in Guangzhou's Liwan district.
The illegal destruction of Jinlingtai and Miaogaotai, the two structures built during the Qing Dynasty (1640-1911), had also raised great concern about the protection of historical buildings as the southern metropolis is renewed amid rapid economic growth. Many historical buildings have been illegally razed for industrial and real estate projects.
City authorities deny having permitted property developers to destroy or damage historical buildings for real estate of other projects.
Authorities have promised to fully investigate the new case and punish the developers who violated laws and ordinances.
Tang Guohua, an architectural expert from Guangzhou University, called for stiff penalties for any developers who have destroyed historical buildings and relics.
"Authorities can impound the land developers have acquired if investigations show they destroyed the historical structures and artifacts," Tang told local media.
Meanwhile, the city will adopt new ordinances to help protect its large number of historical buildings and increase the penalties for those who violate the regulations in the coming months.
"Guangzhou can learn the successful experience of the Hong Kong special administrative region in protecting historical buildings and relics. Destroying and damaging buildings and relics is be severely punished in Hong Kong," Tang said.
Yin Fuqiang, a lawyer at the Longan Law Firm, said people who intentionally destroy or rob ancient tombs are usually sentenced 3 to 10 years in prison, but those who commit lesser offenses might serve less than three years behind the bars or even be put on probation.
"The punishment is not serious enough to deter the criminals," he added.
People cool off in water from orange-coded alert of heat in Chongqing
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