Beijing has mapped out a detailed plan for its central area, to regulate its future development.

The plan, unveiled by the Beijing Municipal Institute of City Planning and Design on Wednesday, incorporates eight districts and covers an area of more than 1,000 sq.km.

The area is divided into 33 parts according to major roads and rivers.

The plan places restrictions on the area's population density, construction, infrastructure, public facilities and height of buildings.

A core area of the city, within the Second Ring Road, has been defined as "an area under protection".

"The number of construction projects and population within the area will be tightly controlled," Wang Yin, deputy chief planner of the institute, was quoted as saying by the Beijing Daily.

The scale of construction within the area will remain at the current level, he said.

"Other than the necessary public facilities, no new construction will be allowed," he said.

The height of buildings will be in accordance with certain standards to avoid being out of harmony with the historical buildings.

Wang said the population of the area, which is about 1.4 million now, would be gradually reduced to 800,000 to 900,000 by the year 2020.

Population relocation would be achieved with the gradual improvement of transportation, education and medical facilities in the surrounding areas, he said

The surrounding areas also face restrictions on population density and construction.

The plan will be posted at the eight districts to solicit public opinion this month.

(China Daily August 17, 2007)