A high school in Baoshan, Southwest China's Yunnan Province was recently required to alter the design of a landscaping features because it resembled a yin-yang symbol allegedly installed to "drive out demons."

The school promised to rearrange the shrubberies after authorities conducted an on-site investigation, media reported Tuesday.

Controversy over the landscaping sparked after students claimed the ancient Taoist symbol was installed to drive out evil spirits from the school.

The space is surrounded by white street lights and pavement marked with a bagua, or circle of eight three-lined symbols associated with Taoist cosmology, creating an effect that teachers and students said "made us feel depressed when we approached it."

The school explained that the design was intended to symbolize well-wishes to students and had no superstitious motivations.

"There was never any issue - the school was founded in 1984 and we are all highly educated. There is no need to drive out demons or pray to gods," said the school's leaders.

However, Many Net users showed support for the design, saying that Taoism is an important part of traditional Chinese culture and the design does not need to be altered as it is a symbol of the legacy of the Chinese nation.

kunming.cn