The State Council has approved a national territorial spatial plan for Hangzhou for the 2021-2035 period, according to an official reply published on Oct 24.

Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang province, holds significant importance as a major city in Eastern China. It is a national historical and cultural city and an international comprehensive transportation hub.

According to the reply, by 2035, the total area of cultivated land in Hangzhou should be no less than 1.7441 million mu, of which the protection area for permanent basic farmland will be no less than 1.4516 million mu, and the red line area for ecological protection should not be less than 4,693.50 square kilometers.

Hangzhou 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 strengthen collaborative interaction with Shanghai, Nanjing and Hefei. Meanwhile, coordinated development between Hangzhou and Ningbo should be pursued.

Measures should be taken to accelerate the construction of an urban system with regional coordination and integration of urban and rural areas, shore up the ecological barrier in Southwest part of Hangzhou and enhance ecological protection and restoration of Qiandao Lake, or "thousand island" lake, Qiantang River, Fuchun River and Xin’an River, said the reply.

Hangzhou should also take more steps to guarantee space for modern urban agriculture and enhance the production of local agricultural specialties to promote the high-quality development of modern agriculture.

The protection of cultural and natural heritages such as West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou, Grand Canal and Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City should also be strengthened.