KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 — A breathtakingly beautiful rock protrusion from a cliff was demolished by Chinese authorities because of its overwhelming popularity with tourists.
With an obvious name like the daredevil stone, it's given you had to be a real daredevil to risk your life for an unforgettable photo.
And the daredevils, in the form of enthusiastic tourists, turned up in full force over the years much to the horror of the authorities in Anyang City, Henan province in central China.
Although the rock was never a designated attraction in the area, people kept venturing to the outcrop for photos.
Some danced on it while others posed with their dogs.
Those who were not as brave crouched low or crawled on their tummy.
Initially, the local government posted a sign, warning visitors to stay away because the stone was cracked.
When that didn’t work, what looked to be a 20-tonne excavator with a 30-tonne hammer bit was brought in on April 11 to tear it down.
It sparked a heated international discussion online with some saying that the demolition was unnecessary.
“Instead of demolishing, they could have steel-reinforced it to be safe,” said a TikTok user.
“Remove the ancient for the temporary,” scoffed another.
But others agreed with the drastic move.
“The rock was breaking guys, it was only a matter of time before it snapped and someone died,” said a supporter.
“It’s limestone, it’s bound to crack and weaken over time,” said another.
