China: Tens of thousands of ruins 'disappear' (BBC)
China says about 44,000 ancient ruins, temples and other cultural sites have disappeared.
That's the conclusion of the country's first heritage census for more than 20 years.
About a quarter of the sites that remain are in a poor state of repair.
Explaining the results, an official quoted by Chinese state media said many such sites were unprotected and had been demolished to make way for construction projects.
The census, carried out by China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage, recorded the registration of 700,000 heritage sites.
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16367488
I wonder how many were destroyed in Mao's Great Cultural Revolution ... funny that's not mentioned. 
= new reply since forum marked as read
And those who followed. South American by the Conquistadors? How much of Europe's older cultural heritage really remains outside of a few Greek and Roman ruins? Africa's? The Middle East's? Japan's? Anywhere?
People need somewhere to live. Places get dug up and paved over to provide.
really? Still seeing those reds under the bed are we? Didn't you get the memo? It's (sand) rats in the wainscotting today.
Mao's cultural revolution is not one fucking bit different to any other revolution or act of conquest. One set of rascals out. A new set in.