New area, new sign system in Hebei province

To date, the new system has been receiving two to three new sign applications per day, with a total of 103 new submissions made since the start of the year.

"Storefront signs form the 'secondary skyline' of the New Area and are pivotal to its urban appearance and city image," Gao said.

"Signs must be installed at designated location, low-grade materials are discouraged, with environmental protection and safety factored into all reviews. Beyond initial approval, we implement full-lifecycle management for every sign, encompassing continuous supervision from installation all the way through business closure."

Law enforcement officers conduct regular patrols of the area and any irregularities regarding storefronts are documented with photos and uploaded to the backend of the system, enabling timely identification of potential safety hazards and prompt rectification notices for merchants.

"Over time, exposure to wind and sunlight may cause loose fasteners or unsightly issues, such as advertisements blocking shop window visibility and cluttered storefront entrances," Gao added.

"We urge merchants to remedy such problems promptly."

Gao said that, to guarantee impartiality, violations are jointly verified by two to three patrolling officers to prevent subjective judgments by a single individual.

The system covers 1,203 ground-floor commercial premises across the district, 326 of which are now occupied. To date, approximately 73 percent of these businesses have completed sign design, application and filing through the platform.