The State Council approved a national territorial spatial planning to be implemented in Guangdong province, according to an official reply released on Aug 18.

According to the circular, by 2035, the total amount of cultivated land in Guangdong province will reach no less than 27.51 million mu, of which the protection area of permanent basic farmland will be at least 25.23 million mu.

Meanwhile, the circular stressed that the red line for ecological protection shall not be less than 50,700 square kilometers, of which marine ecological protection shall not be less than 16,600 square kilometers.

It also prohibited sea reclamation except for the purpose of major national projects, and called for strict management over uninhabited islands.

A national territorial spatial system will be established to underpin new development patterns, according to the circular.

The pattern of territorial spatial development and protection will be optimized, the circular said, adding that supply of grains and important agricultural products in the region will be guaranteed, integration of urban and rural spatial functions promoted, and a batch of rural revitalization demonstration zones with distinctive characteristics and spillover effects built.

The circular called for intensifying shoreline restoration and ecological rehabilitation for the Pearl River basin and strengthening biodiversity protection. It also stressed building the Pearl River Delta into a world-class city cluster.

Inheritance and utilization of outstanding traditional cultures to create unique Lingnan (South China) water towns and attractive coastline is also stressed in the circular.