Chinese builders construct apartment block around graveyard

Photo credit: CFP / China Daily

A Chinese building company have constructed a block of apartments around a graveyard, after the family of the deceased man refused to let him be moved.

The bizarre sight of a tombstone in the middle of a building site follows last week's news of Luo Baogen and his wife, who refused government offers of compensation to have their house demolished to make way for a motorway. They have since accepted a higher offer and have had their home destroyed.

The family in the city of Taiyuan were also unhappy with the compensation offered for the relocation of their relative's grave and the response has been the same: continue building anyway.

The tomb has been there since 2004, reports The Daily Mail, but the site was chosen by the company who have already dug the foundations for the property. The grave is perched in the middle of the site on a 10 square metre island.

The block of apartments is expected to be completed in April 2013.