Billboards banned from city wall

XI'AN: Advertising billboards within the old Xi'an city wall will be banned in an effort to preserve the ancient capital's splendor.

"We will check leases on legal advertising billboards on and around the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) city wall from now till the end of November, and order them to be taken down as soon as contracts expire," Bo Xiangyu, deputy secretary-general of Xi'an government, said.

All outdoor advertising in the area enclosed by the city wall will be banned, Bo said.