A large sculpture in the shape of a blowfish in Yangzhong is under construction, Sept 21, 2013. [Photo/CFP]

The construction of a large building in the shape of a blowfish in Yangzhong, Jiangsu province, has been criticized as an extravagance, local media reported on Friday.

The steel and concrete structure is 90 meters long, from head to tail, 62 meters high and weighs 2,100 metric tons.

It cost about 70 million yuan ($11.44 million) and its surface is made up of 8,920 brass sheets, the Modern Express reported.

It was built as a landmark sculpture to highlight the Garden Expo held in the city in this September. Visitors can take an elevator into the "fish" to view the panorama of the expo garden.

Netizens claimed the project ran counter to the austerity drive advocated by the Communist Party of China.

It claims to be the biggest public sculpture in China, and hopes to be mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records, according to the report.