The State Council has approved a national territorial spatial plan for Nanchang for the 2021-2035 period, according to an official reply issued on Dec 5.

As the provincial capital of East China’s Jiangxi province, Nanchang stands as a major city in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. It is a national historical and cultural city, as well as a national comprehensive transportation hub.

According to the reply, by 2035, the total area of cultivated land in Nanchang should be no less than 3.6443 million mu, of which the protection area for permanent basic farmland will be no less than 3.2201 million mu, and the red line area for ecological protection should not be less than 1,067.85 square kilometers.

The circular stressed the need to actively integrate the region with the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, deeply participate in the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and align with the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region and the construction of Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area.

More measures should be taken to advance the coordinated development of city clusters in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River.

While accelerating the construction of an urban system with regional coordination and integrated urban and rural areas, ecological protection should also be strengthened.

To build a safe, convenient, green and low-carbon comprehensive urban transport network, Nanchang should strengthen its function as a railway hub and improve external and internal channels with multi-directional connectivity and multimodal transport.

Modern urban agricultural space should be ensured, and the space needed for advanced manufacturing development should be prioritized, according to the reply.

In addition, Nanchang is asked to improve the protection mechanism for cultural and natural heritages.