Aussie entrepreneurs' biotech company gets demolished in China by local mayor dubbed 'Demolition Geng'

By Philip Wen
Updated September 25 2016 - 1:14am, first published 12:15am
In Datong, Mayor Geng Yanbo's previous post, an ambitious 50,000-seat stadium has been abandoned half-finished. Photo: Sanghee Liu
In Datong, Mayor Geng Yanbo's previous post, an ambitious 50,000-seat stadium has been abandoned half-finished. Photo: Sanghee Liu
Datong's replica ''ancient'' city wall. Photo: Sanghee Liu
Datong's replica ''ancient'' city wall. Photo: Sanghee Liu
Jack Liang (left) and David Nan(right) at the former location of Bolang Biotechnology with chairman Chu Baolin. Photo: Sanghee Liu
Jack Liang (left) and David Nan(right) at the former location of Bolang Biotechnology with chairman Chu Baolin. Photo: Sanghee Liu
Locals enjoy cycling on Datong's replica ''ancient'' city wall, a legacy of mayor Geng Yanbo. Photo: Sanghee Liu
Locals enjoy cycling on Datong's replica ''ancient'' city wall, a legacy of mayor Geng Yanbo. Photo: Sanghee Liu
The Taiyuan headquarters of Bolang Biotechnology - 20 per cent owned by Australian investors - before being forcibly demolished by the city government in April 2013. Photo: Supplied
The Taiyuan headquarters of Bolang Biotechnology - 20 per cent owned by Australian investors - before being forcibly demolished by the city government in April 2013. Photo: Supplied
Dozens of security guards prevented Bolang staff from entering as demolition crews razed the four-storey building. Photo: Supplied
Dozens of security guards prevented Bolang staff from entering as demolition crews razed the four-storey building. Photo: Supplied
The building lies in ruins. Photo: Supplied
The building lies in ruins. Photo: Supplied

Taiyuan: It seemed an unbeatable investment: a biomedical company in a rust-belt province in China where the government was backing high-tech enterprises enthusiastically.