Beijing bids to become more vibrant cultural hub

Beijing says it will preserve its traditional architecture, build more public cultural facilities, accelerate major cultural projects and develop a cultural industry with global competitiveness over the next 15 years, to enrich the spiritual life of local people and serve social and economic development.

The information about the medium and long-term plan of Beijing to construct a national cultural center between 2019 and 2035 was released at a news conference on Thursday.

It said old and iconic buildings, including hutong (alley), quadrangle courtyards, temples, former residences of celebrities and historical buildings, would be renovated and well-preserved, to balance the protection of tradition with the upgrading of urban areas.