China is planning to introduce new restrictions¹ on place names because of concerns that too many fail to reflect national culture.

担心越来越多的地名未能体现中国文化，中国政府拟规范地名乱象。

The country's civic² affairs minister, Li Liguo, wants anyone naming sites such as bridges, buildings and roads to take inspiration from Chinese history, instead of opting³ for foreign names like "Manhattan Plaza⁴", Beijing News reports. Existing names which fall foul⁵ of the requirements will also be changed, according to the paper.

据《新京报》报道，民政部部长李立国希望人们在给路桥建筑起名字时，能够从中国历史中汲取灵感，尽量避免出现像“曼哈顿广场”这样的洋地名。

Mr Li says cleaning up place names will strengthen and standardise cultural protection, and promote China's cultural heritage. He's in charge of a State Council survey of geographical⁶ names, an effort which started in 2014 and has another two years to run.

李立国表示，清理洋地名会加强对中国文化的保护，弘扬中华文明，有利于推广文化遗产。他领导的国务院小组，2014年起开始对全国地名进行普查，此次地名普查将持续到2018年。

According to the Xinhua news agency, the first places to be renamed will be any that "damage national dignity" or conflict with core socialist⁷ values, as well as those which have attracted the most public complaints. 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.

根据新华社的报道，首批需要接受整改的包括那些“有损民族尊严的”，与社会主义核心价值观冲突的，以及引发公众极大争议的地名。同时，那些过分夸大配套功能的也需要改名。该报道举例称，比如一个自称“威尼斯”的地方，只有一个池塘是不够的。

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. 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!"

社交媒体用户对此褒贬不一。有的说，洋地名就是为了显示自己跟别国或别国的城市有些关联。但也有不少支持的网友。其中一人说道：“是应该改改了，不然我们还以为中国就没有什么历史古韵呢！”