China's first sex theme park has fallen to the wrecker's ball before it even opened, after officials deemed it an "evil" influence.
Developers billed the attraction in Chongqing as tasteful and socially beneficial. But senior officials conducted an emergency tour of Love Land last weekend after it attracted worldwide publicity, state media reported today.
"The investigation determined the park's content was vulgar and that it was neither healthy nor educational. It had had an evil influence on society and had to be torn down immediately," a municipal publicity official told the Global Times newspaper.
She added that the owners of the attraction were "interested only in profiting from sensationalism".
A demolition team moved in at once, toppling the giant revolving model of a pair of women's legs which had stood over the gates.
The park, due to open in October, also included displays of giant genitalia and a photographic exhibition on the history of sex. It had promised workshops to help visitors improve their sexual technique and advise on safe sex.
"It's a pity the park had to close, but we accept the decision," Yang Xiaoyong, a project manager with Mexin Group, the developer of Yangrenjie, told the Global Times.
According to state media, the park was part of an entertainment development costing 1bn yuan (£100m).
"I'm glad the park was demolished because the displays were really rough and had no artistic quality," a nearby resident told the Global Times.
But others argued that Chinese culture was too conservative and that the park would have improved sex education.
"The park was above board, so why was it pulled down? How can a country get powerful if it doesn't open its mind?" read one website comment.
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Image Above: A sculpture of a giant pair of legs wearing a red thong is dismantled by workers at Love Land, China's first sexually explicit theme park, in Chongqing.
