West Lake buildings to be cut in size for shot at heritage status

Tall buildings around the famed West Lake in Hangzhou , including luxury hotels, will have to be cut in size to preserve the area's natural beauty and have the historic scenic spot listed as a Unesco world heritage site.

According to a notice posted yesterday on the city government's website, the authorities want a reduction in the height of lakeside hotels and other buildings. Buildings which will be asked to trim their top few floors include the Shangri-La Hotel, the Huabei Hotel, a television tower and several others situated on the banks of West Lake.

Yang Xiaoru , an official from the application office for world heritage status, said the government had started a renovation project in August to preserve the cultural heritage of the lake and revive features of the 2,000-year-old city's original look.

'The renovation project will last until next April and will also include the refurbishment of buildings in harmony with their surroundings and a reduction in the number of commercial facilities surrounding the lake,' she said.

Mainland media reported yesterday that all buildings over 24 metres tall on the lake's eastern shore would have to be shortened or renovated. The reports did not say by how much they would be reduced by or mention the number of buildings affected. Ms Yang refused to confirm the reports. The mainland applied to have West Lake listed as a Unesco world heritage site in 1996. But it has not yet succeeded.

In a bid to improve its chances in 2010, Hangzhou authorities want to restore the lake's natural beauty that has been damaged by urbanisation.