The State Council approved the overall urban planning (2011-20) for Anshan city in Northeast China’s Liaoning province.

Anshan is one of China’s important steel industry bases, and a major city in Liaoning’s central and southern regions.

An area of 792 square kilometers was designated for Anshan’s unified rural and urban development, the circular stated.

The circular urged efforts to improve villages in the city and city fringes, expand public facilities to serve neighboring villages, develop counties and key villages with potential, and optimize the overall layout of villages and towns.

The circular stated that by 2020, the downtown population should be constrained within 1.85 million, and urban construction land should be limited to 192.64 square kilometers.

No new development zone or city district should be set up beyond the approved area. Increases in construction land will be controlled, and protection of arable land will be strengthened.

Urban infrastructure facilities, including transportation systems, parking lots, underground tunnels and disaster prevention systems, will be improved in a greener way, the circular stated.

Weeding out outdated capacity in the steel and metallurgical industries was highlighted. To protect the environment, it urged strict control of pollution emissions, green building development, and effective use and protection of water resources.

Also, natural reserves, such as Qianshan Mountain, and ecological function zones, including wetlands and water sources, should be further protected.

The circular also stressed enhancing public service facilities involving education, healthcare, and municipal administration.

In addition, subsidized apartments should be included in construction plans. Shantytowns, villages within the city and dilapidated houses should be renovated and equipped with improved facilities.

The circular also urged efforts to protect the traditional city landscape and historical and cultural heritage sites.