Zhao Baojiang, vice minister of Construction, said that local authorities should protect scenic resorts and put their population size and various constructive endeavors under strict control in the way no "urbanization" is to be undertaken.

With the development of economy, especially following a boom of tourism in China, scenic spots have entered an important stage of development. Presently, China has 677 scenic resorts, making over 1 percent of China's territory, including 119 state-level scenic spots, 12 listed as World Culture Heritages. But a fact to be noted is that interest-oriented confused management, deforestation, urbanization, artificialization and commercialization in some scenic spots have greatly impaired the country's sustainable utilization of scenic resources.

Zhao said that programming is blueprint for the development of scenic spots and serves as the basis and means for protection and management of scenic spots. Local authorities should reasonably define and strictly control the domains and capacity for development and ensure a complete view of natural sights and the historical image of human sights in accordance with requirements for ecological protection and environment capacity of scenic spots.

According to stipulations by the state, construction of hotels, guesthouse, training center and nursing homes will not be allowed in key scenic spots. All outdoor religious pursuits as of building a Buddha, temples and the like will be ruled out without approval by authoritative departments. The same will also be with the construction of artificial sights and amusement parks or any undertakings of development zones or holiday resorts, not to say land or resources selling under any name or forms whatsoever in scenic spots.

(People’s Daily 12/26/2000)