Beijing pledges timely replacement of removed signs and billboards

In response to complaints that a city-wide campaign of removing signs on buildings made it difficult for people to find their way, Beijing city management authority said on Friday that it would make sure resetting the signs will keep pace with removal.

An unnamed official with the Beijing Commission of City Management was quoted by Beijing News as saying that the capital has removed nearly 14,000 signs and billboards by Friday.

The city is limiting the number and placement of signs on buildings in recent days in order to "create an urban skyline that is visually clear and bright", and strengthen urban management. The campaign was launched as part of the capital's urban planning for the 2016-35 period.

However, some people complained that they cannot find their way to destinations after obvious signs on building were removed. Some shops and companies had to put up banners with their names or logos on, to replace removed signs and billboards.

The commission also said that it is making overall designs on community neighborhood, aiming to highlight their different features.

According to a notice from the commission, all signs and billboards attached to roofs must be removed. In addition, there can be only one sign with a building's name on the third or higher stories, and the name should be the same as the one registered with planning authorities.