The State Council has issued a circular approving the urban development plan for Nanyang city of Henan province, one of the nation’s most famous historical and cultural cities and an important traffic hub in the central region of China, for the period from 2011 to 2020.

According to the plan, an urban area of 3,760 square kilometers will be used for unified urban and rural planning. By 2020, the city’s downtown population will be contained to 1.8 million, and its land for construction will be limited to 165 square kilometers.

The city should promote construction of green and low-carbon infrastructure, set up a public transportation-based traffic system, and improve parking facilities, utility corridors, and a comprehensive disaster prevention system, according to the circular.

The circular stressed issuing a reasonable urban spatial development plan, including saving energy and reducing outdated capacity, controlling pollution, developing green architecture such as sponge buildings, and protecting natural waters and other natural reserves.

An overall planning program of developing public service facilities concerning education, medical care and municipal administration should be on the agenda, according to the circular. Also, it stressed promoting construction of government-subsidized housing and stepping up renovation of shantytowns and dilapidated buildings.

According to the circular, the city was also asked to preserve its historical and cultural heritages, especially Jiefang road and other cultural and historical blocks, and relic sites.