China has spent over £17 million to relocate a statue weighing over 1,200 tonnes.

In the video, shot in the city of Jingzhou in Hubei Province on September 1, the head of the world's largest bronze statue of Guan Yu, the Chinese god of war, has been removed.

The statue that cost £19 million was in violation of the approved "Jingzhou Historical and Cultural City Protection Planning Regulations" and destroyed the ancient city scenery and historical context.

It is going to be relocated 8 kilometres away from the original location.

The video was provided by local media with permission.

9月1日，备受关注的湖北荆州巨型关公雕像头部开始拆除，搬移工程正式启动。
该尊雕像位于荆州关公义园内，外形为手拿青龙偃月刀、长须飘飘的关公，被称为“全球体量最大的青铜雕像”，雕像净高48米，连同基座共高58米、重1200余吨；大刀长70米、重136吨，外附4000多片青铜片，雕像连同基座在内造价达1.729亿元。
中国住建部去年10月8日通报称，巨型关公雕像违反了经批准的《荆州历史文化名城保护规划》有关规定，破坏了古城风貌和历史文脉。 ​
湖北省投资项目在线审批监管平台显示，关公雕像搬移工程总投资共1.55亿元。拆解后的关公雕像将在荆州城郊的点将台重新组装展示，“点将台”所在的新生村，距离原址约8公里。
9月6日，中央纪委国家监委官网发文评论湖北荆州关公雕像违建和搬移一事。文中称，该项目先违建、后搬移，3亿多元说没就没了，荆州巨型关公搬移教训深刻，将形式主义演绎得“淋漓尽致”，必须警钟长鸣，各地党员领导干部应汲取教训。（视频由湖北台提供）