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

Shenyang, the capital city of Liaoning province, is a major international city in Northeast Asia. 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 Shenyang should be no less than 11.2077 million mu, of which the protection area for permanent basic farmland will be no less than 7.7353 million mu, and the red line area for ecological protection should not be less than 933.84 square kilometers.

Shenyang should cooperate with Harbin, Changchun and Dalian to strengthen regional collaboration in Northeast Asia, enhance its ties with coastal areas in East China and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and intensify the cooperation and connection among cities within Shenyang metropolitan area, in an effort to better leverage Shenyang’s role in revitalizing Northeast China.

Measures should be taken to accelerate the construction of an urban system with regional coordination and integration of urban and rural areas and improve core functions of the downtown area.

The document also stressed the need to fortify ecological barrier in northwest Shenyang, prevent and control desertification and protect major wetlands.

Shenyang should also take more steps to guarantee space for developing advanced manufacturing, modern services and upgrading traditional advantageous industries such as equipment manufacturing. In addition, space for fostering new economic drivers, improving industrial structure and supporting employment and entrepreneurship should also be safeguarded.

The protection of cultural and natural heritages such as the Imperial Palace of Shenyang and Zhao Mausoleum, and industrial heritages should be strengthened, according to the reply.