This image grab taken from a footage of a video by Xinhua shows the US Consulate General in Chengdu.

The US Consulate General in Chengdu was closed at 10 am on July 27, as required by the Chinese side. 

China's competent authorities thereafter entered through the front entrance and took over the premises, China's Foreign Ministry said on its website.

On July 24, the ministry informed the US Embassy in China of its decision to withdraw its consent for the establishment and operation of the consulate. It described it as a "legitimate and necessary response" to the US' earlier unilateral provocation of demanding that China close its Consulate General in Houston.

ALSO READ: Ministry: Request to close US consulate necessary response