Staffers spotted leaving U.S. consulate general in Chengdu 

A group of staffers at the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu were spotted leaving the consulate general at around 6:00 a.m. before a U.S. national flag was lowered at around 6:18 a.m. on Monday.

China had ordered the U.S. to close its consulate in Chengdu in 72 hours in retaliation to the U.S. demand for China to shutter its consulate in Houston. 

The deadline for the U.S. consulate's evacuation was reportedly 10:00 a.m. Monday.