Beijing to Move Pleasure Grounds out of Ancient Parks

Management staff with the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Parks and Woods said Monday they plan to move pleasure grounds out of ancient parks within three years, leaving only a few that are small and eco-friendly.

Jing Changshun, with the bureau, said the pleasure grounds were built in the 1980s to help the parks out of financial trouble - a reasonable decision at the time. But now the noise and pollution emanating from these sites have damaged the environment and the parks' distinctive architecture.

Jing said the plan only affects parks built before the founding of New China in 1949, mainly imperial parks in the feudal society, such as the Temple of Heaven, Beihai Park, the Zhongshan Park and the Jingshan Park.

To make up for what is removed, these parks have added other tourist attractions such as rowing and ice-skating on lakes.

People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/