The economic development of some rural villages in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, has been severely restricted because of moves designed to protect the environment, according to an official.

The problem is shared by many rural areas, said Qi Wanli, vice-chairman of the Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in the city.

Many residents of villages in the city's mountainous areas have been plunged into poverty in recent years as their farmland has been turned over to forests and grass, reducing the amount of money they can earn from agriculture.