Artful graffiti destroyed; public safety cited

The destruction of drawings on the walls of an abandoned community in Shanghai that had become popular with residents brought an angry reaction.

Featuring Chinese people and expressing affection for old houses, the 10-plus doodles were produced around Jan 20 by two artists - one from France and one from Shanghai - on the walls of a deserted community in the city's central Jing'an district.

The drawings soon attracted lots of visitors. Some even had their wedding photos taken with the graffiti as a background.