Illustration: Peter C. Espina/GT

 

"No, and I have no idea what the second storey will be used for either."

A woman who claimed to be the owner of a house near Yonghegong Lama Temple, Dongcheng district, said this when asked whether the construction of a second storey on her house had been approved by the relevant authorities. She said it had not gone through any regulatory bodies, but that as long as no one tipped off authorities, she wouldn't run into problems. Recently, some local residents complained that the building of the second storey will obstruct the view from inside Yonghegong Lama Temple. Local urban management officials have said they will conduct an investigation. (Source: The Beijing Morning Post)