Beijng Puts Limits On Supermarket Construction

Four government departments in Beijing — Beijing Municipal Commission of Commerce, Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform, Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Planning, and Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce — have jointly announced a development guidance catalog for Beijing's distribution industry in 2009.

According to the catalog, the development of 15 classes of project will be limited within designated areas in the city before the end of 2009. The catalog says that in the area bounded by the Beijing's second ring road, no large supermarkets or construction material and furniture stores with a business area of over 6,000 square meters should be constructed during the remaining period of 2009; and within the third ring road of Beijing, construction, renovation, and expansion of large wholesale and retail business facilities with area of over 10,000 square meters will be limited.

However, commercial projects located in areas to the south of Wangfujing, Xidan Business Street, Qiansanmen Street, and a line extended through them, will be exempted.

In addition, any development of business and service facilities on the ground floor of residential buildings, including restaurants, that affects the normal life of residents will be regulated.