Peking Restricts High-Rise Buildings

The city government has begun restricting construction of high-rises and is insisting that new buildings be coordinated with surrounding architecture, the official Xinhua news agency said.

The news agency said tall office and apartment buildings built throughout Peking in the past decade have encroached upon centuries-old homes, gardens and temples and destroyed much of the city’s historic beauty.

Traditional Chinese homes are generally only one or two stories high and built around a courtyard.

Xinhua said the city also has banned new buildings that would break up groups of older houses, and plans to replace dilapidated, traditional-style houses on Chang An Avenue, the main street, and around Tian An Men Square and the railway station with new, traditional-style housing.