Nightclub must undo re-do of landmark Whampao Military Academy building

• Source: Global Times
• [02:54 March 04 2010]
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"We initially approved the transformation of this place because they proposed that the place would be used as a bar to promote the history of the academy with all the interiors untouched," said Chen, adding that the main room had been used as the workplace of a local telecommunication office for years.

Chen said the nightclub opened before building inspectors conducted an evaluation of the project.

"This reveals loopholes in supervision when it comes to the reuse of these protected relics and lack of communication between culture relics protection agencies and other managing authorities," said Long Jiayou, head of the culture relics bureau of Guangdong Province.

Long said that the nightclub obtained its business license from another government agency before the heritage protection regulator assessed the renovation.

Tang Guohua, of the school of architecture at Guangzhou University, said he understands the local government's decision to restore the building's original look but added that "preventing such incidents is more important."