State Council approves Anshan’s city plan

The city of Anshan in Northeast China’s Liaoning province will maintain its population to within 1.85 million by 2020, a newly-released city plan said.

The State Council approved the overall city plan (2011-20) for Anshan and released the document on Aug 7.

The plan said Anshan’s urban construction land should be limited to 192.64 square kilometers. According to the plan, an area of 792 square kilometers is designated for Anshan’s unified rural and urban development.

The document requires concerted efforts to improve villages in suburban Anshan and neighboring districts. Public facilities will be strengthened to serve villages that neighbor the city while counties and key townships with development potential will be a key focus.

No new development zone or city district should be set up beyond the approved area.

The city will control increases in construction land and strengthen protection of arable land, the document said.

Urban infrastructure facilities, including the transport system, parking, underground pipelines and disaster prevention systems, will be improved in a greener way.

Anshan is one of China’s most important steel industry bases, and a major city in Liaoning’s central and southern region. Anshan Steel and Iron Co was one of the earliest companies to go public in the country’s A-share stock markets.

The plan highlights the cutting of outdated production capacity in the steel and metallurgical industries.

The plan also aims to better protect the environment by urging stricter control over pollution emissions, greener economic development and effective use and protection of water resources.

Meanwhile, the document focuses on further protection of natural reserves, such as Qianshan Mountain, and ecological function zones, including wetlands and water sources.

The notice also stressed enhancing public service facilities involving education, healthcare, and urban management.

In addition, subsidized apartments should be encompassed in construction plans while shantytowns, villages within the city and dilapidated houses will be renovated and equipped with better facilities.

The plan also requires protection of traditional city landscapes and historical and cultural heritage sites.