[InKunming--Yunnan]  A cultural tourism project built with an investment of 270 million yuan ($43 million) in Hekou county, Yunnan province, will be dismantled at a cost of 300 million yuan three years after its completion, Dongfang Morning News reported on Thursday.

The project, which faced strong local opposition, began in November 2009. It was intended to create tourism and cultural stops along a 1,053-meter stretch of a river separating China and Vietnam. It included 150 commercial units for rent, with a total floor area of 16,678 square meters for restaurants, bars, travel services, furniture shops and trade companies.

The project was completed in February 2011. It was said at the time that the top official of the county firmly supported the development.

On May 23, the county government decided to demolish the development, saying the buildings made a negative impact on the landscape and that local people had raised many concerns.

The cost of the demolition is estimated to be 300 million yuan, higher than the construction cost.

Total local fiscal revenues for the county in 2013 amounted to just 180 million yuan.