Beijing, Aug 28 (IANS): Beijing will create 15 new parks this year, local authorities said on Monday.
After their completion, 77 per cent of citizens will be able to access a park or green place within 500 metres of their homes, the Municipal Bureau of Landscape and Forestry said.
According to the city's plan, 85 per cent of local citizens will enjoy such benefits by 2020, reports Xinhua news agency.
Beijing has 403 registered parks including the Summer Palace and Tiantan Park.
Among them, 363 parks are in urban areas with a total coverage of 13,800 hectares, said Liu Lili, an official with the bureau.
Liu said Beijing parks receive around 300 million visits each year and that more than 88 per cent of urban parks are free to the public.