At least six workers wearing bright orange jackets were visible on
the 26-storey building's roof and were dismantling the elaborate
house, which was built among rocks and trees.
Work began on Thursday after the villa's well-connected owner hired
a team to start dismantling it, the Beijing Youth Daily reported,
following intense media scrutiny of his business activities.
"I'm very angry that the departments responsible didn't take any
action for years, but this is a good start," said a 70-year-old
woman surnamed Teng, who lives in a building opposite.
"It's a good thing that demolition has finally started," she told
AFP.
Authorities on Monday said the brazen structure -- which began
springing up six years ago -- was illegal and threatened to
demolish it after 15 days if its owner did not remove it.
The owner, Zhang Biqing, founder of a national chain of acupuncture
clinics and a former member of a district-level political advisory
body, had threatened neighbours who complained about the
construction, reports said.
International and local media attention on the building has been
intense, with Chinese web portal Sina using an aerial camera to
swoop over it, revealing a multi-tiered construction heavy with
vegetation and with several security cameras.
"We resolutely support major media outlets in revealing this
residential compound's illegal structures," read a red banner
placed on the fence of the building's compound, apparently written
by residents.
But some were less supportive of the demolition.
"It's something an ordinary person would never usually build," said
63-year-old local resident Tan Huiqin.
"It's a bit of a shame that it's being demolished... I'm not sure
if it is truly dangerous."
Taxi driver Jin Jian was clearly impressed.
"It's an awesome structure," he said as he waited opposite the
building.
The rooftop villa has focused attention on the issue of illegal
construction in China, with local reports saying that Zhang's
connection with celebrities and government officials had given him
a sense of impunity from the law.
But some locals were sceptical about whether all of Zhang's
roof-top additions would be removed.
"It won't be demolished completely," said one middle-aged man who
sat on a motorcycle outside the building, but declined to give his
name.
"He must have good relationships (with authorities), he's even had
celebrities to sing karaoke in the villa," he said.
