CITY planners have started to draw "purple lines" around ancient buildings on their construction maps in order to protect the buildings from China's fast urbanization process.

According to new regulations issued by the Ministry of Construction that took effect Sunday, cities should set specific protection areas, marked with purple lines, for historical streets, blocks and buildings. All construction activities in these areas should be supervised, the China Daily quoted a ministry official as saying.

Damaging, demolishing and restructuring historical buildings; altering the traditional style of old buildings, and illegal occupation or destruction of gardens, grasslands, lakes, roads are all forbidden by the regulations.

The new rules were a response to the excessive emphasis put on economic growth by some areas, which had led to limitless over-exploitation of relics without any restraint and planning, the official said.

The government has already introduced "red lines" to highlight areas where public infrastructure facilities are and "green lines" for areas dedicated to greening programs.

Editor: Wings