The National Theatre Company of China will build its new
compound at a location outside the buffer zone around the Forbidden
City, or the Palace Museum, in Beijing.
The Beijing Daily reports around 310 million yuan, or about 40
million US$, will be spent to build a 900-seat theatre on the new
site, near the southwest second ring road, with state-of-the-art
facilities.
The National Theatre is currently located inside the buffer zone
for the Forbidden City, a rectangular area in central Beijing set
up to restore the world heritage site's original atmosphere.
The Beijing municipal government has specified buildings with
overly bright colors or western designs will not be allowed to stay
within the buffer zone.
(CRI.cn April 10, 2007)