Nanjing announces cleanup program ahead of games

Tourists in Nanjing, a city with a history of 2,500 years, will enjoy better scenery by next year when the government plans to meet its newly announced environmental goals.

The capital of Jiangsu province has presented a massive plan to deal with the city's current environmental problems, such as waste classification, dilapidated buildings and illegal construction.

Yang Weize, Nanjing's Party chief, said at a meeting last week that some squalid areas and buildings that were constructed without permission have turned the ancient city into "a beggar with dirt all over his face".

"Some unlicensed buildings have existed for years, even though local residents complain from time to time. Ignoring the problem and doing nothing would bring shame to the government," Yang said.

Yang promised that the government will...

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