The subway operator of Hubei province's Wuhan city announced on Dec 22 that it will redesign its two mascots following complaints from experts and residents, Chutian Metropolis Daily reported.

One of the mascots, a crane, symbolizes how the subways will add fuel to the Central China city's development, while the other, based on the rare Yangtze finless porpoise, suggests the city's enthusiasm and hospitality, according to the subway operator.

But Yan Lin, a professor of design at Hubei Institute of Fine Arts, said the characters' designs are flawed, adding that they look more like cartoon characters than mascots. Some netizens were more direct in their criticism, saying the two characters could not be any uglier.