Central China's Henan Province has started to remove buildings believed to affect the natural landscape around the famous Shaolin Temple, known as the birthplace of Chinese Kung Fu.
Some 10 schools, 300 stores and 10 companies would be removed in the coming month, said a government official from Dengfeng city,where the temple is located, adding the project would affect 23,000 residents around the temple.
More efforts would be made to retain the natural environment around the temple, said the official.
The Shaolin Temple, which attracts millions of visitors a year, was first built some 1,500 years ago. It became famous overnight when the movie "Shaolin Temple" hit the cinemas 20 years ago.
(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2003)
