A giant golden statue of late Chairman Mao Zedong has been brought down before its completion in China's Henan Province.

This was the 36-metre-high statue of China's late Chairman, Mao Zedong in its full glory, covered in golden paint.

But it has since been taken down.

Chinese media say local entrepreneurs in Henan province spent nearly $500,000 to build it, intending to show respect to the late leader.

According to state-run newspaper People's Daily, the statue lacked government approval and was brought down by local demolition teams.

A provincial newspaper said one of the entrepreneurs decided to bring Golden Mao down also because of the controversy it stoked.

Mao died in 1976 and remains a divisive figure in China.

His image is on banknotes, and his embalmed body attracts hundreds of visitors a day to Beijing.

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