Accuracy of Xi'an metro murals questioned

The operator of Xi'an's subway system has defended a controversial mural of an ancient monk that commuters have criticized as historically inaccurate.

The wall painting, which depicts Xuanzang, a monk from the Tang Dynasty (618-907), visiting the Taj Mahal, is only a work of art that highlights the cultural links between China and India, according to Xi'an Metro Co.

Lotus Temple in Delhi, completed in 1986, also appears, the company said in a statement, adding, "The use of two symbolic elements of different times showcase the change and development of Indian culture."