Xi'an, the ancient Chinese capital in northwestern Shaanxi
Province, has worked out a new scheme to protect its historical
buildings.
The city with more than 3,100 years of urban construction
history and serving as capital for 13 dynasties, has a large number
of ancient buildings, ruins and relics, China Daily
reported Tuesday.
It is known as one of four world-renowned civilized ancient
capitals along with Cairo, Athens and Rome.
But rapid economic development in the past two decades has seen
some traditional residential houses removed to make way for modern
buildings.
Special protection door plates are now being placed on dozens of
houses by Xi'an Municipal Government to ward off developers.
The 50 million yuan (US$6.16 million) scheme, which will also
include a repairs program, has been welcomed by the residents.
An Qiangjun, whose houses are known as the An Jia Yard, used to
worry the yard would be removed with the rapid modern urban
construction.
"With the door plate hung on the gate of my yard by the local
government on Friday, I can better protect the heritage handed down
from my ancestors," China Daily quoted An as saying.
The scheme will help safeguard residential houses built in late
Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and early Republic of China
(1911-1949).
(Xinhua News Agency January 10, 2006)
