http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25502503-29677,00.html
China sindrome too much for party chiefs Jane Macartney, Beijing | May 19, 2009 Article from: The Australian FOR China's Communist Party leaders, the country's first sex theme park proved to be a g-string too far. Workers remove a giant pair of women's legs wearing a red thong. Picture: Reuters Within hours of a nationwide blaze of publicity for the park featuring over-sized statues of naked genitalia and how-to workshops, the bulldozers moved in to raze Love Land. The park had been set to open in October in the southwestern city of Chongqing. Among the first displays to fall victim to the wreckers ball was a rotating signboard with the park's name straddled by a giant pair of women's legs topped by a red thong. The park's manager, Lu Xiaoqing, defended the venture late last week and bemoaned the lack of sexual openness in a country where just three decades ago it was seen as provocative for a woman to have long hair or to wear a skirt. He said: "Sex is a taboo subject in China but people really need to have more access to information about it. We are building the park for the good of the public. I have found that the majority of people support my idea, but I have to pay attention and not make the park look vulgar and nasty." He clearly failed to win the support of city propaganda officials. A hasty weekend inspection tour after pictures of the theme park appeared in the media spelled its demise. One city propaganda official said: "The investigation determined the park's content was vulgar and that it was neither healthy nor educational. It had an evil influence on society and had to be torn down immediately." He Shizhong, head of the municipal publicity department, said the company behind the park had "ignored its social responsibility and was interested only in profiting from sensationalism". By yesterday, the park was history. Developers were quick to offer an apology. A project manager with Mexin Group said: "It's a pity the park had to close, but we accept the decision. We apologise if we upset any members of the public." The rest of the park would be a civilised and healthy entertainment complex. However, the destruction of Love Land sparked a new round of public debate. One man told the Global Times: "I'm glad the park was demolished because the displays were really rough and had no artistic quality." Another wrote on a popular chat forum: "Too many people can't break through traditional barriers, so it might be too early to build such a park." Some were not pleased. "The park was above board, so why was it pulled down? How can a country get powerful if it doesn't open its mind?" The Times
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