Beijing to limit its population within 23 mln: city planning draft

The skyline at the central business district in Beijing. [Photo: VCG]

Beijing plans to enhance restrictions of the city's population growth with a target to cap its population at 23 million in 2020.

The target is part of the city's latest draft of "Beijing general-planning (from 2016 to 2030)" that was issued by the city's Municipal Commission of Urban Planning on Tuesday.
The general plan is now open to Beijing citizens and public opinion on it will be solicited between March 29 and April 27.
To better tackle the city's increasingly severe issues of air pollution, the draft said the city will make its efforts to considerably reduce the index of PM2.5 from currently 73 micrograms per cubic meter to 56 in 2020 and to 36 in 2030.
In the meantime, more trees will be planted around the city. According to the draft, the city's forest coverage rate will reach over 45 percent by 2030 and the "green space" of the city's parks will be remarkably increased with the area of "green space" for each citizen standing at 16.8 square meters in 2030.
"Green travel" will also be promoted by the city with more subway lines and intercity railway lines to be constructed in the Chinese capital. The draft said the proportion of "green travel" in Beijing will exceed 80 percent in 2030 and it will boast around 1000 kilometres of rail transport in 2020.