Hundreds of students in the ancient city of Pingyao in north China began the school year on Sunday in new school buildings outside the city walls.

Moving three primary schools and two kindergartens out of the city zone is the beginning of the grand relocation campaign to protect Pingyao, a World Cultural Heritage Site in Shanxi Province.

More than 20,000 downtown residents of the city which has a history of over 2,700 years, will be relocated within four years to new communities to be built outside the city walls.

It is the first time in China that urban residents have been moved simply for the purpose of protecting a World Cultural Heritage Site, according to Luo Zhewen, an expert on ancient architecture. He described the effort as "of extraordinary significance".

There are about 45,000 residents in Pingyao, covering an area of mere 2.25 square kilometers. The population density, which is 16 times higher than that of Beijing, is far beyond the city's accommodation capacity, according to experts.

By the end of 2005, all government organs, enterprises and institutions will be moved to the new zone. A maximum 25,000 dwellers, calculated to be the ideal population for the sustainable development of Pingyao, will remain inside to maintainits vitality.

The goal of the move is to alleviate the problem of the city's growing population and booming tourist numbers in recent years, soas to restore its original serenity and prosperity, said head of the county Li Dingwu.

Pingyao, best-known for its almost intact Ming Dynasty city walls, well-preserved ancient dwellings, stores and temples and asthe birthplace of Chinese banks, is a popular destination for both Chinese and overseas tourists.

The relocation campaign started with schools, hospitals and other organs that are closely related to everyday life in order to steer people's movement in a natural and smooth way, said the official.

Since it was put on the World Cultural Heritage list in 1997, seven enterprises and 74 administrative units, including the governmental office building, have been gradually moved out, making room for the reconstruction of China's earliest bank site, street networks, and over 3,700 homes and temples within the city walls.

Pingyao is a "unique treasure" of global architecture, noted experts of the Human Settlements Program under the United Nations (UN-Habitat) during their inspection.

Wang Xiuzhen and her family has been living in a shabby 27-square-meter hut for generations. Following the relocation of her factory workplace, she bought a new flat outside the city.

Though a little reluctant to leave her old house, Wang is very happy with the cozy new flat.

"It is three times larger than the old one, and the experience of sharing a kitchen and lavatory with neighbors will finally come to an end," said Wang.

The local government has been making efforts to improve the local environment. Thirty chimneys and more than 400 coke furnaces will be demolished in the near future.

Other programs include the standardization of advertising signs along main streets, afforestation and the exploration of local tourist resources.

( Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2002)