Police are investigating the dumping of a dead baby in the Guangdong provincial capital, Guangzhou Daily reported.

The baby's body was found in front of the city's safe haven for abandoned babies on Sunday.

Witnesses said a man and a woman dumped a bag at the safe haven and then quickly left by a taxi.

After the incident was reported, emergency doctors who responded at the scene found the baby had only been born for several days and had died before it was left at the facility.

Zhu Yihua, a local lawyer, said the parents might have committed intentional homicide.

Guangzhou's first safe haven for abandoned babies has received more than 100 children after it was put into use on Jan 28.

In addition to infants, children aged 5 to 6 have been left at the facility. And all children who've been abandoned were either critically ill or are disabled.

Located only 50 meters from a welfare home in a busy downtown area, the safe haven provides abandoned infants and children a temporary home. With a floor space of only 7 square meters, the facility, which cost 120,000 yuan ($19,800) to build, is equipped with cribs and incubators.

Havens of hope open their arms to forsaken infants	Xi'an safe haven receives 60 abandoned babies