No, you’re not looking at The Great Sphinx in Egypt, but rather a life-sized replica in China. This knockoff was constructed in a cultural park in Shijiazhuang, situated near China’s northern Hebei province. Despite its size, builders took only a couple of months to construct the 30 meters (98.5 feet) high and 80 meters (264 feet) long structure out of steel-reinforced cement. Continue reading for a video and more information.
Egypt’s minister of antiquities, Mohammed Ibrahim, said the replica Sphinx contravened UNESCO’s 1972 Convention and is “a violation of Egypt’s rights to its cultural heritage and a bad imitation that disfigures the original.” Responding to that comment, a park representative stated that “We did not use it for commercial purposes and did not charge fees from visitors, nor do we intend to make it a tourist attraction,” but the park has agreed to dismantle the structure anyway and regrets the misunderstanding.”
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