Mudanjiang starts investigating unapproved Cao Yuan garden (1/7)

A view of the Cao Yuan, Cao's Garden, built illegally inside a state-owned tree farm in Mudanjiang City, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 20, 2019. Without approval, a company felled many trees and started construction of the complex in 2005, investing more than 100 million yuan ($14.9 million) in the project. Although the local land and resources bureau has demanded three times that the complex to be demolished and the developer pay fines, construction of pavilions and other structures has continued for many years, and samples of more than 20 species of wild animals and plants have also been displayed inside, until a recent media report went viral online. The city has formed a work committee to thoroughly investigate the case, according to Zhang Weiguo, the deputy mayor of Mudanjiang. (Photo: China News Service/Jiang Hui)

A view of the Cao Yuan, Cao's Garden, built illegally inside a state-owned tree farm in Mudanjiang City, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 20, 2019. Without approval, a company felled many trees and started construction of the complex in 2005, investing more than 100 million yuan ($14.9 million) in the project. Although the local land and resources bureau has demanded three times that the complex to be demolished and the developer pay fines, construction of pavilions and other structures has continued for many years, and samples of more than 20 species of wild animals and plants have also been displayed inside, until a recent media report went viral online. The city has formed a work committee to thoroughly investigate the case, according to Zhang Weiguo, the deputy mayor of Mudanjiang. (Photo: China News Service/Jiang Hui)

A view of the Cao Yuan, Cao's Garden, built illegally inside a state-owned tree farm in Mudanjiang City, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 20, 2019. Without approval, a company felled many trees and started construction of the complex in 2005, investing more than 100 million yuan ($14.9 million) in the project. Although the local land and resources bureau has demanded three times that the complex to be demolished and the developer pay fines, construction of pavilions and other structures has continued for many years, and samples of more than 20 species of wild animals and plants have also been displayed inside, until a recent media report went viral online. The city has formed a work committee to thoroughly investigate the case, according to Zhang Weiguo, the deputy mayor of Mudanjiang. (Photo/VCG)

A view of the Cao Yuan, Cao's Garden, built illegally inside a state-owned tree farm in Mudanjiang City, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 20, 2019. Without approval, a company felled many trees and started construction of the complex in 2005, investing more than 100 million yuan ($14.9 million) in the project. Although the local land and resources bureau has demanded three times that the complex to be demolished and the developer pay fines, construction of pavilions and other structures has continued for many years, and samples of more than 20 species of wild animals and plants have also been displayed inside, until a recent media report went viral online. The city has formed a work committee to thoroughly investigate the case, according to Zhang Weiguo, the deputy mayor of Mudanjiang. (Photo/VCG)

A view of the Cao Yuan, Cao's Garden, built illegally inside a state-owned tree farm in Mudanjiang City, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 20, 2019. Without approval, a company felled many trees and started construction of the complex in 2005, investing more than 100 million yuan ($14.9 million) in the project. Although the local land and resources bureau has demanded three times that the complex to be demolished and the developer pay fines, construction of pavilions and other structures has continued for many years, and samples of more than 20 species of wild animals and plants have also been displayed inside, until a recent media report went viral online. The city has formed a work committee to thoroughly investigate the case, according to Zhang Weiguo, the deputy mayor of Mudanjiang. (Photo/VCG)

A view of the Cao Yuan, Cao's Garden, built illegally inside a state-owned tree farm in Mudanjiang City, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 20, 2019. Without approval, a company felled many trees and started construction of the complex in 2005, investing more than 100 million yuan ($14.9 million) in the project. Although the local land and resources bureau has demanded three times that the complex to be demolished and the developer pay fines, construction of pavilions and other structures has continued for many years, and samples of more than 20 species of wild animals and plants have also been displayed inside, until a recent media report went viral online. The city has formed a work committee to thoroughly investigate the case, according to Zhang Weiguo, the deputy mayor of Mudanjiang. (Photo: China News Service/Jiang Hui)

An official talks to reporters about the investigation into Cao Yuan, Cao's Garden, built illegally inside a state-owned tree farm in Mudanjiang City, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 20, 2019. Without approval, a company felled many trees and started construction of the complex in 2005, investing more than 100 million yuan ($14.9 million) in the project. Although the local land and resources bureau has demanded three times that the complex to be demolished and the developer pay fines, construction of pavilions and other structures has continued for many years, and samples of more than 20 species of wild animals and plants have also been displayed inside, until a recent media report went viral online. The city has formed a work committee to thoroughly investigate the case, according to Zhang Weiguo, the deputy mayor of Mudanjiang. (Photo: China News Service/Jiang Hui)