China will soon overhaul 151 major resorts in the country to better protect the scenic spots, an official from the Ministry of Construction said on Friday.
Li Dongxu, director of the ministry's Urban Construction Department, said at a working conference held in the southwestern municipality of Chongqing bad management at some national resorts had led to serious damage to natural resources.
The illegal construction of economic development zones or holiday villas were not rare in major scenic spots, said the director, adding some resorts under the management of private companies suffered from lack of maintenance funds while the companies profited.
Li said at the conference those resorts which were not overhauled would be penalized including being taken off the list of national major resorts.
(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2003)