The State Council approved a national territorial spatial plan for Hunan province for the 2021-2035 period, according to an official reply released on Dec 7.

According to the reply, by 2035, the total area of cultivated land in Hunan should be no less than 53.73 million mu, and the red line for ecological protection should not be less than 41,800 square kilometers.

Hunan is asked to strengthen alignment with the city cluster in the Yangtze River Delta and the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, making joint efforts to promote the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

A modern agricultural technologies innovation highland is also expected in Hunan, according to the reply.

In addition, efforts for restoration of the ecological environment along Yangtze River, Dongting Lake and Xiangjiang River will be intensified, and natural, historical and cultural resources such as Zhangjiajie and Hengshan Mountain will be better protected, the reply said.