This year, the city of Xi'an – capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province – will improve its level of urban planning and construction management to develop a livable city, according to the city's housing and urban-rural development bureau.

It said that throughout the year, the city will invest more than 120 billion yuan ($17.78 billion) in urban construction.

Passengers try out a new section of Xi'an Metro Line 6. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]

In terms of the rail transit system, the city will speed things up at six metro lines that are under construction. Within the year, the first phase of Metro Line 16, the third phase of Metro Line 1 and the second phase of Metro Line 2 are projected to meet initial operating conditions.

The construction of urban water supply, power supply, gas supply, heating and other projects will be advanced. The city will build 30 substations within the year, complete the construction of 351 power pipeline projects covering 193.5 kilometers, and the city's safe power supply capacity will reach 13 million kilowatts.

An aerial view of an interchange in Xi'an. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]

Key road projects will be advanced as well, such as the west section of Dazhai Road, the interconnection project of Beichen Avenue and city ring expressway, as well as the Beijing-Kunming Expressway expansion project.

Xi'an will also expand its supply of parking spaces and start construction of no less than 20,000 of them throughout the year.

In addition, the renovation of old residential areas and the construction of characteristic blocks within the Xi'an City Wall will be the city's focus.

An overview of the Qujiang Xinkaimen Sports Park in Xi'an. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]