The large tomb is to be demolished because part of it is built on public cultivated land, Huangbei, Hubei province. [Photo/Xinhua]

A large tomb construction project, part of which is built on public cultivated land, is stopped and demolished in Huangbei, Hubei province, on Feb 27, 2011, Xinhua New Agency reported.

The tomb, which takes up almost one mu (666.7 square meters) land, was being built by Zhou Yongjun, a local real estate businessman.

Zhou built it for his father who is alive, because of a local tradition of tomb building for old people while they are still living. The project began in November 2010.

A group of pictures of the tomb was published on the BBS sparking a hot discussion around Feb 26. Many netizens argued that such a large tomb is a waste.

The local government held an investigation and found that part of the tomb was built on public cultivated land, and ruled that it should be demolished.

The local government staff says Zhou agreed to demolish the tomb.