Xi'an, the ancient Chinese capital in northwestern Shaanxi Province, has worked out a new scheme to protect its historical buildings.

The city with more than 3,100 years of urban construction history and serving as capital for 13 dynasties, has a large number of ancient buildings, ruins and relics, China Daily reported Tuesday.

It is known as one of four world-renowned civilized ancient capitals along with Cairo, Athens and Rome.

But rapid economic development in the past two decades has seen some traditional residential houses removed to make way for modern buildings.

Special protection door plates are now being placed on dozens of houses by Xi'an Municipal Government to ward off developers.

The 50 million yuan (US$6.16 million) scheme, which will also include a repairs program, has been welcomed by the residents.

An Qiangjun, whose houses are known as the An Jia Yard, used to worry the yard would be removed with the rapid modern urban construction.

"With the door plate hung on the gate of my yard by the local government on Friday, I can better protect the heritage handed down from my ancestors," China Daily quoted An as saying.

The scheme will help safeguard residential houses built in late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and early Republic of China (1911-1949).

(Xinhua News Agency January 10, 2006)