[Photo / Qianjiang Evening News]

A giant mural painted by a female climber on a cliff in eastern China’s Zhejiang province became a local tourist attraction during the recent National Day holiday. However, the painting will soon be removed by the local government.

The portrait, which was created by a 37-year-old woman as a grand romantic gesture, was drawn on a cliff in Xianjü National Park. It is about 7 meters tall and has attracted visitors from all over the country. Since the cliff is not officially listed as a scenic spot, local authorities were forced to take special precautions during the holiday to ensure the safety of visitors.

“Though a good love story clearly attracts visitors to the park, this kind of destructive behavior cannot be tolerated,” an official with the park’s management committee told Qianjiang Evening News, adding that the portrait's removal may necessitate significant expenditure of time and resources.

According to Qianjiang Evening News, the national park was actually founded by France in order to study local biodiversity. A team of experts from France will pay a visit to the damaged cliff next week to provide professional guidance for its restoration.

Unlike the local government, many netizens have praised the painting as a good combination of art and nature.

“I think the portrait looks great on the cliff. Our ancestors also drew pictures on cliffs, and now they have become famous scenic spots. Why can't we keep the portrait, which could become an important attraction hundreds of years from now?” asked one Internet user on Sina Weibo.