The central government has set up a special fund of 500 million yuan ($76 million) for an ongoing "face lift" project aimed at making ecological improvements in the Xiongan New Area in Hebei province before construction begins.

In addition, two ecological protection plans are being drafted to make the area a "naturally scenic city with blue skies, fresh air and clean water". The Ministry of Environmental Protection is also forming an advisory committee that will contribute expertise in carrying out the plans, You Yanxin, an official in the ministry's department of planning and finance, said at a news conference on Thursday.

"The ministry has launched an investigation into soil pollution in the new area, and priority will be given to land that will be used for hospital and school construction," she said.