Beijing plans to turn empty land into green space

Abandoned plots of land and parcels with demolished buildings in downtown Beijing will be converted into green spaces with grass, shrubs and trees, the city government said on Thursday.

By 2020, the green coverage in central Dongcheng and Xicheng districts is expected to be 33 percent and 31 percent respectively, according to Beijing Gardening and Greening Bureau. It did not provide data on the current coverage.

“Our goal is to beautify downtown areas and provide more comfortable places for people living there,” Lian Guozhao, the bureau’s deputy director, said at a news conference for the first session of the 15th Beijing People’s Congress.

He said the plan marks further implementation of a strategy introduced in 2017 that focuses on building and improving old neighborhoods.

Xu Li, deputy head of Xicheng, said there are plans to add 8 hectares of green plots and establish two forest parks this year. Meanwhile, an official from Dongcheng said it will expand its green space by over 150,000 square meters.

Last year, Xicheng added 27 green leisure spaces and 66 mini green plots, while Dongcheng built 10 pocket parks, according to local authorities.