Fake windows painted on the outside of a block of low-cost apartments in Qingdao city, East China's Shandong province, Oct 23, 2013. [Photo/CFP]

The government of Qingdao, Shandong province, has responded to queries over fake windows painted on the outside of a block of low-cost apartments in the city, saying the windows are there for aesthetic reasons.

According to a report from China National Radio, the appearance of painted windows on a new tower block sparked rumors on the Internet, with some asking whether the government was cutting corners in a bid to save money.

Others asked whether the construction company had cheated the government in order to increase its profit margin.

A CNR reporter visiting the site confirmed the existence of the painted windows and said that the building would not look any worse without them.

The local government said the tower block had been built in strict accordance with the design of the planning department and the painted windows were just for decoration.