37-metre-tall golden Chairman Mao statue appears in the Chinese countryside
The statue is in Henan Province, the epicentre of a famine which killed millions partly brought on by Mao's policies
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A giant golden statue of Chairman Mao has been built in the remote Chinese countryside.
The building of the huge sitting image of Mao Zedong, the late communist revolutionary and founding father of the People's Republic of China, was mostly funded by local businessmen, who poured 3 million yuan (£313,000) into the project.
Local farmers and villagers also made contributions towards the monument's construction.
The statue, which is around 37 metres high, is situated in a rural area of Tongxu county in Henan Province - the epicentre of a famine which killed tens of millions in the late 1950s, partly as a result of Mao's policies.
The smiling statue has faced criticism online, with some branding it a waste of money and pointing out the potential insensitivity of its location.
However, Mao is still revered as a hero by many Chinese citizens, including President Xi Jingping, who has previously praised the late dictator as a "great figure."
Recent images of the statue show it is still under construction, but once it is finished, the concrete and steel structure will show Mao sitting in a similarly large chair.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments