Old Town of Lijiang clamps down on inappropriate tourism development
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Old Town of Lijiang. [File photo: Xinhua]

Officials in Lijiang, Southwest China's Yunnan province, are seeking to protect the historic town's unique appeal by clamping down on unchecked tourism development, reports Yunnan.cn.

They've produced a list for public consultation, dividing commercial development into four categories - activities the government encourages, permits, limits and bans.

Traditional commercial culture in Lijiang, including the shops or performing places for Dongba script, clothes of minority groups and traditional arts of Naxi people, etc., are to be encouraged.

However, restaurants, bars, tea houses and coffee shops, along with jewellery shops will be strictly limited.

Also, dance halls, cinemas and places providing saunas, massages, hairdressing and beauty, manicure and tattooing, etc., are all on the banned list.

A shop selling musical instruments in Old Town of Lijiang. [File photo: Xinhua]

"The indigenous culture of Lijiang has been facing great impact from the outside and it may disappear in the near future if we don't take action now," said Li Guozhang, director of the publicity office of the Gucheng district of Lijiang.

By establishing an approved system for commercial places in the Old Town of Lijiang, commercial activities will be streamlined and the genuineness and unity of the cultural relics will also be better preserved, added Li.

The public are invited to express their opinions about the list, by visiting the official websites of Lijiang government or writing to them before February 20.

The Old Town of Lijing was established in the 13th century and it was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1997.

Old Town of Lijiang. [File photo: Xinhua]

Author： 　　　Source：CRI　　　 Editor：Yang Fan