The State Council approved the overall urban plan (2003-2020) for Jiaxing, a tourist city in East China’s Zhejiang province, which is known for its historic culture and water townships.

Coordinated urban and rural development was urged in the designated area of 986.7 square kilometers, with extra attention paid to developing counties and major towns with potential, and optimizing the overall layout of villages and towns.

According to the plan, by 2020, the population of permanent residents in downtown Jiaxing will be capped at 1.3 million, and the city’s urban construction land limited to 154.27 square kilometers. No development zones or new districts will be allowed beyond the approved area.

Newly added construction land should be strictly controlled, and underground space should be explored and utilized. Efforts should also be made to improve the land usage rate and protect basic farmlands.

The State Council also urged the Jiaxing government to establish a comprehensive transportation system and promote the construction of urban parking lots.

Other city infrastructure, such as water supply and waste disposal systems, should be developed under a coordinated plan. Disaster prevention and reduction work should also be reinforced, the plan said.

The local government is urged to strictly control emissions of pollutants, improve the use efficiency of water resources, promote the construction of a “sponge city” and enhance the protection of scenic spots and special ecological function areas.

The State Council also called for better public services concerning education, medical care and municipal administration, and the construction of subsidized apartments should be included in the city’s development plan.

Efforts should also be made to protect historic culture and natural reserves.