Beijing cracks down on illegal billboards in citywide drive

Beijing’s northernmost district is expected to tear down nearly 600 advertising hoardings as part of a citywide campaign to remove illegal signs and tidy up the capital’s skyline.

Huairou district will demolish 597 rooftop billboards by the end of the year, such as the almost 20-year-old plaque at the top of the Huairou Commercial Building, Beijing Daily reported over the weekend.

“Most buildings with rooftop billboards also have signs on their lower levels,” the head of the city management committee was quoted as saying. “Enterprises typically add rooftop adverts because they are more eye-catching. It not only affects the city’s appearance but also creates safety hazards.”

Launched in November, the campaign aims to “purify the city space and to create a beautiful skyline”.

More than 10,000 illegal billboards across the city have been marked for removal, including those placed above the permitted height or position on building facades. New regulations include a ban on signs that are more than three storeys high, over 1.5 metres in length, or use highly reflective materials.