New type of urbanization is not a justification for grabbing funds

THE CONSTRUCTION OF TOWNS with distinctive local features must not center on demolishing old buildings and makeshift rebranding, said a recent circular issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. Southern Metropolis Daily commented on Saturday:

The development of small cities and small and medium-sized towns with distinctive local features has been in the spotlight since Premier Li Keqiang mentioned it was a key task in this year's Government Work Report. China is expected to have around 1,000 such towns by 2020, and local governments aspiring to build them have access to funds from the China Development Bank.

But the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development is right to take action to curb malpractices, such as the unauthorized demolition of old buildings or the renaming of sites. Among some 300 such towns under construction, few are original and unique as expected. Those pursuing cultural tourism claim they have a long history and multiple cultural relics, yet most of them are newly built. Some are even named after European cities.