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Beijing Mayor Liu Qi said the city will spare no efforts in protecting its style and features inherited from its 3,000-year history while undertaking the modernization drive in the five years to come.
Liu made the remark at an ongoing fourth session of the 11th Beijing Municipal People's Congress. He said that the ancient imperial city, the axle line which separates ancient Beijing into two symmetric parts, key cultural relics, the city's drainage system, and the first 25 mosaic spots of historical and cultural relics will be shielded by the protection umbrella.
Beijing is among 99 historical ancient cities listed by the State Council. Established more than 3,000 years ago, Beijing has been taken as a capital for 800 years.
The Chinese capital also serves as a model of ancient city layout in the world. How to protect the ancient city and simultaneously build a modern metropolis has become a hot topic when Beijing began to step up urban construction.
Beijing has planned to restore some cultural relics, such as the rampart built during Ming (1368-1644) and Qing 1644-1911) dynasties the ruins of Yuanmingyuan (Winter Palace), and the lakes and rivers in the city.
It will also clean up the surroundings of the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven which have been inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO.
Liu said that relevant rules and laws should be enacted to protect the ancient city.
(Xinhua 02/07/2001)
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