Images spread on social media on Sunday of towering, luxurious palaces - sometimes known as government office buildings in China - instantly stirring up debate over whether these were part of president's Xi Jinping's "Chinese dream".
The world was all ears when Xi first announced the idea of his “Chinese dream”. The dream, he said, was to achieve “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” by the time the Communist Party of China hits its centenary.
As vague as Xi’s “dream” might be, it has led to mass public speculation, expectation and has even become the butt of political jokes. It has also made China's obsession for excess more difficult to defend.
“We’re 100 years early in realising the Chinese dream! We now have the biggest, most beautiful and luxurious government offices in the world! Right now, what else could the Chinese people be dreaming of?” said blogger, Longyi Sky Master 945.
The blogger compiled a series of photos crowdsourced from netizens this week showcasing the country’s palatial government office complexes.
Perhaps what he meant to say was that if government office buildings are a manifestation of Xi’s dream, it would appear the dream has already been realised.
One user on weibo summed it pretty well. "Bureaucrats and corrupt officials are living the dream but most in the country live a nightmare."
