中国政府计划限制"外国"地名的命名

China is planning to introduce new restrictions on place names because of concerns that too many fail to reflect national culture.

中国正计划出台新的地名限制措施，因为有太多地名不能反映民族的文化。

The country's civic affairs minister, Li Liguo, wants anyone naming sites such as bridges, buildings and roads to take inspiration from Chinese history, instead of opting for foreign names like "Manhattan Plaza", Beijing News reports.

据新京报报道，中国民政部部长李立国表示，希望所有人能够为如桥梁，建筑物和道路等地点命名，从中国历史中获取灵感，而不是选择如“曼哈顿广场”一样的外国名字。

Existing names which fall foul of the requirements will also be changed, according to the paper.

据新京报报道，现有不合规的地点名称将会被替换。

Mr Li says "cleaning up" place names will "strengthen and standardise cultural protection", and promote China's cultural heritage.

李立国部长表示，“清理”地名会“加强和规范文化保护”，推广中国的文化遗产。

According to the Xinhua news agency, the first places to be renamed will be any that "damage national dignity" or conflict with core socialist values, as well as those which have attracted the most public complaints.

据新华社报道，第一批需要重命名的地名是那些“损坏国家尊严”或违背社会主义价值观的，以及那些引起最多市民投诉的地点。

Places which promise more than they deliver are also in the government's sights - so anywhere adopting Venice as part of its name will need to have more than just a pond, the agency notes.

新华社指出，那些名过其实的地名也进入了政府的视野中，举例来说，叫'威尼斯'的地方不能仅仅只拥有一个池塘。

Social media users are divided on the issue, with some pointing out that foreign names are often chosen as a way of celebrating ties with other cities or countries.

社交媒体用户对此持不同意见，一些人指出选择外国名字通常是庆祝与其他城市或国家的关系的一种方式。

There's plenty of support, though, with one person writing: "They really should change, or else we'll feel there are no Chinese historical elements!"

也有很多人对此表示支持，一位用户写到：“许多地方真的需要改以下名字，不然我们觉得都没有中国历史元素！”