Beijing plans satellite cities

Beijing municipality unveiled plans to contain urban sprawl by developing three satellite cities on its eastern edge. In a report to the Beijing People's Congress, Mayor Wang Qishan said the city would spend RMB7.7bn developing infrastructure in rural areas to fold 11 towns into three cities clustered around Tongzhou, Shunyi and Yizhuang as part of Beijing's 2005-20 development plan, which won State Council approval in January.