Hangzhou sites to follow West Lake
By Zhang Xuanchen |
June 28, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
The government of Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, yesterday said it will apply for world heritage status for another two cultural sites in the city following the recognition of the West Lake.
The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the world's longest artificial river, and the Liangzhu Archaeological Site, cradle of the last Neolithic jade culture, are expected to follow the lead of West Lake, which was recently inscribed on a World Heritage Cultural Landscape list, Zhang Jianting, Vice Mayor of Hangzhou, told a press conference yesterday.
The addition to UNESCO's list on June 24 has boosted the number of World Cultural Heritage sites in China to 41. The country now ranks third in number of sites, after Italy's 45 and Spain's 42.
However, the designation comes amid concern over the growing influx of tourists and vehicles at the site. Some 30 million people visit the West Lake annually and the number is expected to surge after it gained UN recognition.
In response, the Hangzhou government is giving thought to a traffic control plan which is likely to put a cap on the number of vehicles and tourists entering the scenic spots at the lake, said Wang Shuifa, director of the West Lake Management Committee.
Traffic flow will be channeled by means of building transit highways that bypass core scenic spots, Wang said.
Administrators will also restrict the number of exclusive clubs and tear down a protruding hotel near the West Lake in order to protect it from excessive commercial exploitation, Wang said.
"We are committed to turning the West Lake into a World Heritage 'without threshold' by strictly restricting the number of high-end business venues," said Wang.
The official said high-end venues will not account for more than 5 percent of all business venues around the West Lake, banning venue operators from using membership or minimum consumption to exclude clients.
Wang said the local government is also considering tearing down the East Wing of the Shangri-la Hotel Hangzhou when the land-lease contract with the hotel operator ends in 2035.
The building is too high and blocks the view of the lake, Wang said, adding that the plan to tear it down has not been finalized.
The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the world's longest artificial river, and the Liangzhu Archaeological Site, cradle of the last Neolithic jade culture, are expected to follow the lead of West Lake, which was recently inscribed on a World Heritage Cultural Landscape list, Zhang Jianting, Vice Mayor of Hangzhou, told a press conference yesterday.
The addition to UNESCO's list on June 24 has boosted the number of World Cultural Heritage sites in China to 41. The country now ranks third in number of sites, after Italy's 45 and Spain's 42.
However, the designation comes amid concern over the growing influx of tourists and vehicles at the site. Some 30 million people visit the West Lake annually and the number is expected to surge after it gained UN recognition.
In response, the Hangzhou government is giving thought to a traffic control plan which is likely to put a cap on the number of vehicles and tourists entering the scenic spots at the lake, said Wang Shuifa, director of the West Lake Management Committee.
Traffic flow will be channeled by means of building transit highways that bypass core scenic spots, Wang said.
Administrators will also restrict the number of exclusive clubs and tear down a protruding hotel near the West Lake in order to protect it from excessive commercial exploitation, Wang said.
"We are committed to turning the West Lake into a World Heritage 'without threshold' by strictly restricting the number of high-end business venues," said Wang.
The official said high-end venues will not account for more than 5 percent of all business venues around the West Lake, banning venue operators from using membership or minimum consumption to exclude clients.
Wang said the local government is also considering tearing down the East Wing of the Shangri-la Hotel Hangzhou when the land-lease contract with the hotel operator ends in 2035.
The building is too high and blocks the view of the lake, Wang said, adding that the plan to tear it down has not been finalized.
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