Good news for those who are disheartened by our urban planners' bad tastes.

The desperate public appeals for better building styles, in spite of recalcitrant disregard by local administrators, received sympathy on Friday from Zhongnanhai, headquarters of the national leadership.

At a brain-storming session about major public infrastructures, Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan compared notes with experts about ways to stem wastefulness, as well as following a blind pursuit of grandeur and outlandishness in urban planning.

Echoing Premier Wen Jiabao's instructions in a recent memorandum, Zeng accentuated quality, safety, resource conservation, and environmental protection in urban development.

Such essential concerns that should have been present in all development programmes are regrettably vulnerable to neglect by image-sensitive local urban planning authorities.

Chinese urban planners share a notorious appetite for grandiose landmarks to prop up self-confidence. But symbols of so-called modernity are little more than spacious plazas and steel-and-glass structures with a metallic lustre. Thirst for a modern, or post-modern look plus poor judgment has cultivated an addictive obsession with huge weird architectures as proud new landmarks.

Instead of practical functions, economy, safety, resource conservation, environmental-friendliness, and contextual harmony, they are preoccupied with grandiosity.

Architectural tributes to our history and culture should not be demonstrated through mimicking ancient buildings. In fact, we find adding traditional sloping roofs to modern architectures, a strange practice once popular in Beijing, a mockery of architectural wisdom.

But since history is no longer in vogue these days, unbridled enthusiasm for post-modern structures is proving itself a bigger threat to out urban skylines.

There is the saying that our cities have become paradise for imaginative architects from all over the world. Indeed, few can rival our city managers as accommodating hosts. They may not be as open-minded in other areas. But in trying out bold new designs, they always seem receptive.

Zeng put forward many thoughtful suggestions about large public infrastructures. We are especially impressed by his advice that architectural features should conform with overall urban planning, and that architectural layout should take into consideration the bigger urban landscape and surrounding environment.

(China Daily September 11, 2006)