Shanghai to Curb Construction of High-rise Apartments

In Shanghai, government now forbids the construction of high-rise apartments, higher than 30-storey apartments in particular, in scenic spots, along local tourism routes and in areas that already have many sky scrapers.

This follows the decision prohibiting the construction of high office buildings several years ago.

A senior government official in charge of city development planning said high apartments have caused light pollution and fire hazards.

Latest statistics show more than 3,000 buildings in the city are above 24 meters and more than 100 buildings are above one hundred meters. Of the total high-rise buildings. over 2,000 were built in the 1990s, with 484 built in 1997. In contrast, the figures in the 1970s and the 1980s were 149 and 650 respectively.



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