Public money being wasted on follies

THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING and Urban-Rural Development has publicized two examples of local construction projects, in which local governments of poor regions invested heavily to construct grand structures that are of no use, instead of actual projects to improve people's lives. Beijing News comments:

The local governments of the two regions are rather "creative" in building their follies. Yuzhong county in Northwest China's Gansu province received 62 million yuan ($14.7 million) to improve the local environment, yet they invested 42 million yuan building scenic gates at the entrance and exit of the local highway.

In Hancheng, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, the local government invested heavily in constructing a scenic rockery garden that not only far exceeds their needs, but also is incompatible with the surrounding geography and scenery.