CNN is reporting that a giant, golden statue of Mao Zedong, the father of modern China, was demolished because it lacked approval from authorities.

CNN is reporting that a giant, golden statue of Mao Zedong, the father of modern China, was demolished because it lacked approval from authorities according to Chinese state media.

Images posted on Weibo, China's dominant social media service, showed the seated 36.6 meter (120 feet) statue partially destroyed, with a black shroud covering its head.

Businessmen and some rural communities chipped in nearly 3 million yuan ($459,000) to build the conspicuous tribute, according to Chinese state media.

It was reportedly constructed of steel and concrete, and painted gold. It was completed in December.

Before its destruction, seated amongst scrubby farmland, the statue had garnered its fair share of compliments -- and criticism -- on Chinese social media.

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Users of China's popular microblogging service Weibo appeared divided over the statue, with user shenqilei saying, "This is so embarrassing!," while beijiyisuoqianban took a more patriotic tack, saying: "Long live Chairman Mao!"

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