In the early hours of May 28, the quiet town of Xilu in Shantou, Guangdong, was suddenly jolted awake. Dozens of excavators roared to life, tearing through the darkness with mechanical force. By dawn, the once-opulent Yingzhiyuan mansion — a 57-acre luxury estate allegedly worth nearly one billion RMB [US$140 million] — had been reduced to rubble.
What happened to the Yingzhiyuan mansion?
The demolition was carried out by local authorities, who had issued an official order to forcibly dismantle the mansion just weeks prior. Social media lit up with video footage and eyewitness accounts, showing the complete destruction of a sprawling estate once filled with faux-antique architecture and European-style villas.
According to residents living nearby, the operation began late at night on May 27. “The noise was overwhelming,” one local told Jimu News. “I was woken up by the sound of heavy machinery.” The entire area had been cordoned off, with traffic blocked and makeshift walls erected to keep curious eyes at bay.
A shopkeeper near the site told Beijing News that she witnessed 20 to 30 excavators actively tearing down structures around midnight. By morning, all that remained were broken bricks and twisted rebar. Gone were the four grand courtyard-style buildings inspired by traditional Chinese design and the seven European villas — once the pride of the estate.
Who built this billion-yuan dream?
Construction on Yingzhiyuan mansion reportedly began in 2013, funded by the Chen brothers, influential local businessmen from Xilu Town. The trio allegedly poured nearly 1 billion RMB into the estate. The project was a bold, extravagant venture in a largely rural part of Guangdong, seemingly out of sync with its surroundings.
Over the years, the Chens have become known for their extensive business interests spanning multiple sectors. At their peak, their assets were valued at over 1 billion RMB. But their fall from grace was swift. Financial troubles, including a 530 million RMB [US$74 million] loan dispute, eventually landed them on the government’s “restricted high-spending” list. Properties once owned by them are now being auctioned off online.
Why was Yingzhiyuan mansion demolished?
On May 9, the government of Shantou’s Chaoyang District issued a public notice declaring the estate illegal. The mansion, it said, had been constructed on collectively owned industrial land without proper authorization. The decision was the result of an investigation by the local Natural Resources Bureau, which had ordered the owner, Chen Yingbiao, to dismantle the structures within 45 days.
The notice warned that failure to comply would result in forced demolition — a warning that materialized swiftly. What surprised many, however, was the urgency and secrecy of the operation. Despite standing for over a decade, Yingzhiyuan mansion was torn down overnight, seemingly in response to mounting public pressure and online scrutiny.
A cautionary tale of wasted wealth
The reaction online has been intense. Many netizens questioned how such an elaborate estate could have stood for 12 years without intervention, only to be destroyed overnight. Some called it “a colossal waste of resources,” lamenting that the buildings could have been repurposed for public good — like schools, senior housing, or community centers.
One blogger, known as “Tong Ge Observes,” criticized the timing, suggesting that the overnight demolition was more about appeasing public opinion than enforcing the law. “Why wasn’t it stopped during construction? Why wait until it’s complete to act?” he wrote.
Another widely shared post pointed out a broken promise by the Chen brothers. In earlier years, they had pledged to donate 30 million RMB [around US$4 million] to build a school — but reportedly delivered only 120,000 RMB [US$17,000]. Their reputation has since been further tarnished by revelations of asset seizures and government penalties.
So what now?
The fall of Yingzhiyuan mansion is more than just the story of an illegal villa. It’s a sobering reflection of unchecked ambition, administrative inaction, and the disconnect between private wealth and public regulation. While the ruins now lie silent, the questions raised by this high-profile demolition echo loudly across social media and public discourse.
Translated article
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