The State Council approved the city plan of Xuzhou, East China’s Jiangsu province, on June 23.

The plan was first set up in 2007 and updated this year.

According to the plan, urban and rural areas should be managed in coordination, with the same basic public services.

The scale of the city should be controlled. By 2020, downtown population should be limited to 2.88 million people, and construction land should be no more than 316.2 square kilometers. No development zone or new town is allowed outside the planned construction area.

Land should be used efficiently by exploiting underground space and protecting farmland.

Infrastructure should be enhanced, such as public transportation, parking lots, water supply, garbage disposal and disaster prevention.

Resources should be saved and pollutant emission be reduced. Excess industrial capacity should be cut. More green buildings are encouraged, and sewage disposal should be improved. Natural reserves, wetlands and scenic spots such as Jushan Mountain should be better protected.

Subsidized apartments should be included in construction plans to ensure their land supply and investment. Shantytowns and dilapidated structures should be repaired.

Historical relics should be protected, such as the tomb of King Chu, a lord in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24).