The city of Datong, Shanxi province held a seminar, on Dec 20, to discuss the preservation and development of its historical, cultural background, with some prominent experts and scholars on hand to make suggestions on restoration and other aspects.

The city’s Party secretary, Feng Lixiang, explained to the gathering that the preservation and restoration project of Datong is a major effort backed by the municipal Party Committee and municipal government, basically for improving living conditions of local people and improving the function and infrastructure of the urban core for economic growth and cultural soft power.

Feng emphasized the importance of coming up with a scientific plan for the restoration work and that the city had designed a Preservation and Restoration of the Old City plan earlier this year, under the principle of preserving its history and culture and improving its soft power for a charming, more modern city.

The municipal Party Committee and municipal government have reached agreement on following a market-oriented approach in the restoration progress to speed things up partly by introducing private capital. The restoration project will begin this coming year and cover a 3.28-square-kilometer part of the city, including the old city walls and the surrounding moat.????????

Edited by Roger?Bradshaw????????????????????????????????????????????????