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Patrick Boehler


As Beijing's bizarre rooftop villa was in the process of being torn down on Thursday, new video footage of the giant illegal construction has appeared online showing it from above.
The one-minute piece filmed by a drone camera shows the vast dimensions of the 800-square metre mansion in central Beijing, including its pool, garden and verandahs.

The video was uploaded on Thursday morning in a Sina Weibo post by a netizen who identified himself as Flycam. The microblog also features photos of the self-built drone fitted with a DSLR camera.
Within twelve hours, the video was viewed more than half a million times on Youku, a Chinese equivalent of YouTube. 
Last week, the illegal rooftop construction by Zhang Biqing, a controversial practitioner of Chinese medicine, caused nationwide ridicule. On Tuesday, municipal authorities gave Zhang 15 days to tear down the illegal structure.
He told the Mirror newspaper that he was willing to remove part of the structure, including a glass house and some vine creepers. But he wanted authorities to allow him to keep the sprawling fake rocks, which he claimed helped to insulate the building against heat.
 


Video: Beijing's illegal rooftop mansion seen from above

The rooftop villa seen from above. Screenshot from Youku. 

A photo of a camera drone shared by Weibo user @Flycam. Screenshot from Sina Weibo. 

Powerful Beijing doctor's illegal structure tops them all

A view of the fake mountain and trees on top of the residential building in Beijing's upscale Park View estate. Photo: Simon Song

Zhang Biqing, the owner of the rooftop villa. Photo: SCMP Pictures

What does the downfall of Zhang Biqing, a self-proclaimed doctor, say about China’s credulous elite?

Zhang Biqing's illegal rooftop villa. Photo: EPA

Residents mounting a banner outside Zhang's residential compound. Photo: Screenshot from Sina Weibo. 

Qigong master Wang Lin seen proving the power of his qi with a snake. Photo: Screenshot from Sina Weibo.

Zhang Biqing seen in his rooftop structure. Photo: Screenshot from Sina Weibo. 

News

China Insider

As Beijing's bizarre rooftop villa was in the process of being torn down on Thursday, new video footage of the giant illegal construction has appeared online showing it from above.
