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A proposed design for a new train station in the Chinese city of Nanjing has been ridiculed by internet users for a very unusual reason. 

Chinese social media users have pointed out that the new £2.2 billion ($2.7bn) North Nanjing station has a striking resemblance to a sanitary pad. 

While its designers insist the four-lobed building is meant to resemble a plum blossom, many netizens point out that plum blossoms famously have five petals. 

The topic has generated millions of views on Chinese social media platforms, with many commenters mocking the unfortunate design. 

One Weibo user asked: 'Why can we all tell it is a sanitary pad immediately, but the architects can't?'

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Chinese social media users have mocked the proposed design for a new train station in Nanjing, comparing the station to a sanitary pad 

Chinese social media users have relentlessly mocked the design of a new train station in Nanjing, with one post (pictured) asking whether 'this style designed to prevent side leakage?' (translation via Google)

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Nanjing North station is huge investment for the city of 8.5 million and will become the city's biggest station. 

Sitting over an area of 14 square miles (37.6 square km), the station will serve an estimated 36.5 million passengers a year.

However, none of that has prevented social media users from relentlessly mocking the design, often comparing it to an 'aunt's towel' or 'aunt's scarf' - a euphemistic term for sanitary pad. 

One commenter wrote on Weibo: 'This is a giant sanitary pad. 

'It's embarrassing to say it looks like a plum blossom.'

Another commenter joked: 'I think we should take this chance to call for society to pay attention to period shaming. 

'This design is ahead of its time.'

The train station is a significant investment for Nanjing, a city of 8.5 million people, costing an estimated £2.2 billion ($2.7bn) to build

Other social media users have made a joking connection between the station's unfortunate design and its intended function. 

One commenter joked: 'No matter how large the passenger flow is, it can be fully absorbed and stay dry all day long.' 

While another post mockingly asked: 'Is this style designed to prevent side leakage?' 

However, some commenters have leapt to the defence of the train station, although not always for the most obvious reasons.

'Why does the sanitary napkin have a bad meaning?' asked one commenter.

'Don't be so whiny. If your mother didn't menstruate, she wouldn't have been able to give birth to you. Support Nanjing North Railway Station.'

This is not the first building in China to cause a stir. Previously the China Central Television Building (pictured) was mocked for resembling a big pair of boxer shorts 

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According to local news outlet Nanjing Morning News, the design has now been greenlit by the provincial government and China State Railway Group. 

Construction is set to begin within the first half of 2024 and the station is expected to receive its first passengers by the start of 2028, according to The Nanjinger.

But, as some pointed out, this is not the first public building in China to cause a stir. 

In 2004 the China Central Television headquarters, or CCTV building, was also mocked for its unusual design. 

While some hailed it as a great work of architecture, others pointed out that it resembled a pair of black shorts.

For that reason, locals often refer to the building simply as 'big pants' or the 'big boxer shorts'.