The Chinese government has banned the building of new golf
courses, luxury homes and race tracks on undeveloped land.
The government on Monday published regulations to limiting and
prohibiting land use to protect the country's diminishing
farmland.
New land use for large commercial facilities such as large
furniture and building materials facilities, entertainment centers,
theme parks, and cemeteries are to be restricted and completely
prohibited on farmland.
"The regulations will ensure farmland is protected and land is
effectively used," said a senior official with the Ministry of Land
and Resources.
The country's rapid industrialization and urbanization are
fueling demand for land for construction and the government has
been forced to control land use through stricter management
measures.
The new regulations, which replace those published in 1999,
tighten controls on land use for resource-consuming construction
projects.
(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2006)