Chinese city bans foreign names
The capital of the south-western Chinese province of Yunnan, Kunming, has banned the use of foreign names for buildings and property developments.
They debased traditional culture and were in poor taste, an official said.
Under recent guidelines, new developments must have their names approved by officials to get a licence.
Correspondents say names that sound foreign are popular in China, because they add a hint of exoticism to new housing projects in the country.
Original article with map or
'Weird'
At least nine developments in Kunming have changed their names so far since new guidelines were implemented.
Names such as Aladdin Gardens and White House Mini District were among those changed, the Associated Press reports.
"It is not proper to name those communities with so many weird foreign titles," an official with the local urban planning department told the agency.
"We feel obligated to keep our local characteristics."
Foreign-sounding names were targeted at the educated middle class, who are open to foreign travel, culture and ideas.
Kunming first enacted rules against naming real estate developments with foreign names in 1997, but it issued new guidelines after complaints from the officials of the local Communist Party.
A spokeswoman for the developer of the White House Mini District, said the company was following the new guidelines.
"The old name seemed to suit the project, but I don't think there'll be any effect on sales," the woman said, quoted by AP.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/4241336.stm
Published: 2005/09/13 17:51:50 GMT
© BBC MMV
They debased traditional culture and were in poor taste, an official said.
Under recent guidelines, new developments must have their names approved by officials to get a licence.
Correspondents say names that sound foreign are popular in China, because they add a hint of exoticism to new housing projects in the country.
Original article with map or
'Weird'
At least nine developments in Kunming have changed their names so far since new guidelines were implemented.
Names such as Aladdin Gardens and White House Mini District were among those changed, the Associated Press reports.
"It is not proper to name those communities with so many weird foreign titles," an official with the local urban planning department told the agency.
"We feel obligated to keep our local characteristics."
Foreign-sounding names were targeted at the educated middle class, who are open to foreign travel, culture and ideas.
Kunming first enacted rules against naming real estate developments with foreign names in 1997, but it issued new guidelines after complaints from the officials of the local Communist Party.
A spokeswoman for the developer of the White House Mini District, said the company was following the new guidelines.
"The old name seemed to suit the project, but I don't think there'll be any effect on sales," the woman said, quoted by AP.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/4241336.stm
Published: 2005/09/13 17:51:50 GMT
© BBC MMV