The provincial government of southwest China's Sichuan Province plans to spend nearly 300 million yuan (US$37.5 million) to repair and protect the ancient city of Langzhong, located along the Jialing River, a branch of the Yangtze River.

Since the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), emperors of all dynasties valued Langzhong as an important strategic location for governance of southwest China, and numerous dynasties set up government offices there.

Langzhong is also famed for its spectacular scenery. Many princes and royal members of different dynasties who visited there were so taken with the area's natural beauty that they had pavilions and pagodas built for their personal use when they returned to the city.

Today's Langzhong retains most of the ancient architecture that represents styles of various dynasties and is regarded as one of China's four major ancient cities.

According to local officials, thousands of courtyards and a hundred or so streets and lanes remain from the dynastic periods, covering a total area of 2 square km. Experts say the benefits gained from preserving the city are immeasurable.

More than 30,000 residents now live in the ancient city, and about 10,000 will be resettled to allow workers access to the site.

Some of the residents have been advised to remove their front doors made out of metal, which guard against theft but clash with the original architectural style.

A city official said that all buildings which do not match the original style of the ancient city will be demolished.

And the government will allocate about 150 million yuan (US$18.1 million) for modernizing the city, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2001)