Olympic themed graffiti has appeared on an aged building in Changchun city, northeast China's Jilin Province, featuring the mascot of the 2008 Beijing games Fuwa, as well as the emblem of the event, and the portraits of noted athletes Yao Ming and Liu Xiang.

The work was created by a graffiti team, who call themselves "Hei Shou" or "Black Hand." An apt name as the graffiti was completed in the cover of darkness over a few days.

Li, the team leader, said that it took them over fifty hours to paint the pictures. The process was recorded on their online blog.

Asked how they came up with the idea, Li explained that the old building was affecting the image of the city. They decided to decorate the building with graffiti to improve its appearance and to help people recognize graffiti as art and not as a crime.

The graffiti has received mixed reaction with local youth supporting the group's action, while others questioned the legality of graffiti.

The city administration bureau in Changchun said they were currently monitoring the issue. As the group's actions were unauthorized they may face legal action.

(CRI via china.org.cn June 11, 2007)