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Famous Scenic City Suzhou Bans Quarrying
The scenic city of Suzhou in east China's Jiangsu Province has imposed a quarrying ban to maintain its image as an idyllic place.
Granite stones quarried in Suzhou are so well-known throughout the country for their fine quality that they were used to build the Memorial Hall of Mao Zedong and the Monument to the People's Heroes in Tian'anmen Square.
It is estimated that four million tons of stone are quarried each year bringing over seven million yuan of profit, enough to make the local towns prosperous.
However, local authorities found that the loud noises and dust from the quarries do not suit Suzhou's image as a paradise on earth.
To compensate local workers for their losses, the government has allocated 365 million yuan to help them develop agriculture, such as planting of flowers and fruit trees, and freshwater aquiculture.
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