Reuters

Huang Sufang reacts as she sees a part of her house being taken down by demolition workers at Yangji village in central Guangzhou city, Guangdong province, China on March 21, 2012.

Huang Sufang, a resident of the Chinese city of Guangzhou, mounted a desperate last stand to protect her home as demolition workers moved in on Wednesday.

According to local media cited by Reuters, part of Huang's house was mistakenly demolished as workers were flattening another building nearby.

Hers was one of more than 1,000 homes in Yangji, a former village that has been swallowed up by the rapid expansion of Guangzhou, China's third-largest city with a population of over 12 million.

In 2010, China Daily reported that Yangji was one of 138 'urban villages' in Guangzhou earmarked for demolition to make way for new developments in the next decade.

Disputes over land rights are the leading cause of surging unrest across China, according to a study cited by Bloomberg News.

Reuters

Huang Sufang tries to attack a worker with a brick after a part of her house was demolished.

AFP - Getty Images

Huang Sufang attempting to protect her home as workers move in for demolition.

Reuters

A relative holds Huang Sufang as she wipes away tears.

AFP - Getty Images

Workers demolish a group of villagers' houses in Yangji village.

Reuters

Huang Sufang lies on the ground after a part of her house was demolished.