Experts are warning local governments in east China's Jiangsu Province about the increasing influx of migrants to its urban areas, making Jiangsu the most densely populated in the country.

According to a survey recently released by the Jiangsu Provincial Bureau of Statistics, the population density in the province has reached 729 people per square kilometer, 5.3 times the nation's average population density.

According to He Guangyuan from the Jiangsu Provincial Bureau of Statistics, migration from other regions to the urban areas of Jiangsu is the major reason for the population increase.

Compared with rural places, urban areas in Jiangsu experienced an expanding population, as most migrants from other provinces or the countryside of Jiangsu chose to settle down in the province's cities, according to He.

South Jiangsu cities, witnessing dramatic economic growth, have attracted a huge number of migrants and have seen their populations increase by 9.74 percent during 2000 and 2005, said He.

To solve the problem of overcrowding, many densely-populated cities in Jiangsu have taken measures.

For instance, Nanjing, the capital city of Jiangsu, has announced recently that it will speed up its construction of suburban districts to relocate factories, institutions and residents.

The latest population census conducted by the local statistics bureau revealed that the number of residents per square kilometer has reached 282,000 in Nanjing, which makes it one of the most densely populated old cities in the country, said Liu Qinghao, vice-director of the Nanjing Municipal Urban Planning Bureau.

To date, more than 390 medium- and large enterprises have already been moved to suburban industrial parks.

Moreover, dozens of universities and middle schools have set up campuses in the suburb.

More than 300,000 residents are going to be relocated in the newly built suburban residential districts within five years, according to Liu.

Like Nanjing, five other cities in the province, which boast a population larger than 5 million, have taken measures to relocate their work units and residents in suburban areas.

In addition to developing new and bigger cities, local governments in Jiangsu have also drawn detailed schedules to protect their ancient buildings.

The province's rich history has left many cities in Jiangsu with a great number of monuments, buildings, sites and ruins, many of which are the remains of imperial palaces, according to officials with the Jiangsu Cultural Heritage Bureau.

"We hope that after the renovation, the city will maintain its authentic flavor and boost its tourism," said local cultural heritage protection authorities. "We don't want all those ancient buildings to vanish due to urban development."

(China Daily May 9, 2006)