Chinese authorities destroy villager's 10-storey Studio Ghibli-esque home
Chinese authorities have demolished a ten-storey home in Xingyi, Guizhou province, that had become a tourist attraction. The owner, Chen Tianming, spent years and significant money transforming the house, which was deemed illegal by local officials. Despite the destruction, Chen expressed no regret and is seeking legal recourse to challenge the demolition.
- ▪Chen Tianming's home was a ten-storey structure that attracted tourists for its unique design.
- ▪Local authorities claimed the building lacked necessary permits and posed safety risks.
- ▪Chen spent about 200,000 yuan over eight years to create the structure, which was compared to Studio Ghibli's whimsical worlds.
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Chen Tianming standing in front of his ramshackle ten-storey house in Xingyi, in southwest Guizhou province, China. Photograph: Pedro Pardo/AFPView image in fullscreenChen Tianming standing in front of his ramshackle ten-storey house in Xingyi, in southwest Guizhou province, China. Photograph: Pedro Pardo/AFPChinaChinese authorities destroy villager’s ramshackle 10-storey Studio Ghibli-esque homeThe home in the village of Xingyi in Guizhou province had become a tourist attraction, but officials said it lacked the necessary building permitsAlastair McCready in TaipeiThu 21 May 2026 23.23 EDTLast modified on Thu 21 May 2026 23.38 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleA ramshackle 10-storey home that had become an offbeat tourist attraction in south-western China has been torn down, ending a…
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