Xiamen moves to protect Gulangyu Island, Wanshi Mountain

Gulangyu, the small island off the coast of Xiamen in Fujian province, boasts many 19th-century buildings as it was once home to several Western religious groups, international institutions and foreign consulates. [Photo/Xinhua]

Xiamen is working to implement a development plan approved by China's State Council in April that outlines how the city in East China's Fujian province will protect the historical sites in Gulangyu Island and Wanshi Mountain during the period 2017-2030.

The plan, originally drawn up by Xiamen's municipal commission of urban planning and the Xiamen Academy of Urban Planning and Design, aims to balance the development of the city's tourism industry with the protection of the environment and the historic monuments at the famous tourist sites.

The plan outlines a graded system for monitoring and protecting the city's tourist sites.

The highest-value areas, including Dayu Island, Jiyu Island, beaches, cultural relics under State or provincial protection, core cultural heritage sites on Gulangyu Island and historic roads are classified as "first-class protection areas". Planning permission will only be granted to buildings related to tourism and ecological protection in these areas.