The State Council approved a national territorial spatial plan to be implemented in Anhui province, according to an official reply released on Dec 7.

According to the circular, by 2035, the total area of cultivated land in Anhui will be no less than 81.15 million mu, and the red line for ecological protection should not be less than 19,600 square kilometers.

Anhui should participate in the nation's major strategies such as integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and the rise of Central China, the reply said.

Strict measures must be taken to protect high-quality arable land in the hilly areas of the Yangtze-Huaihe region, and more efforts should be made in protection and restoration of ecological barriers in western and southern Anhui and ecological corridors along rivers.

Anhui is also required to push forward integrated layout for Hefei’s metropolitan region and build an efficient modern logistics system, easing the traffic network with major cities in the Yangtze River Delta.

Protection for world heritage sites, such as Huangshan Mountain and ancient villages in southern Anhui, will be enhanced, according to the reply.