news on beijing

Averting a blow-up

China's 17th Party Congress, its biggest political event for five years, opens in Beijing on October 15th. Officials are taking no chances with security. Police have been sweeping the greater Beijing area for illegal explosives, using trained dogs and electronic detection devices, and focusing on abandoned houses and underground markets. On September 12th they found over 500 grams of explosive powder in Beijing’s Mentougou district. This did not seem to constitute a security threat: the area is home to many small, illegal coal-mining operations that routinely use explosives.



AP


Just wanting somewhere to stay

Let down

Landlords and estate agents in Beijing are bristling over new police rules that forbid them from letting to tenants who lead “irregular lifestyles”. The state-run China Daily reported on September 7th that the regulations affect not just would-be residents who lack legal identity documents or engage in illegal activities, but also those who “keep unsociable hours”. The newspaper quoted a police official as saying the rules would improve the administration of the leasing market, safeguard public security and maintain social order.


The fair way, not the fairway

Life is about to get bleaker for Beijing's elite sports enthusiasts. According to state media, the city is banning the construction of new golf courses, racetracks and ski areas. Rising living standards have boosted demand for such land-intensive amusements: the city is already home to about 30 golf courses. But the central government and the Municipal Bureau of State Land and Resources have put a stop to new projects and plan instead to allocate more land for residential use. New residences account for only 1,600 of the 6,300 hectares approved for development in 2007.


Low blood count

Health officials in Beijing are scrambling to shore up the supply of Rh-negative blood in the city's blood banks. This type is exceedingly rare in China, occurring in only three out of every 10,000 people (0.03%). But about 15% of Westerners are Rhesus negative, and with Beijing expecting more than 500,000 foreign visitors for next year's Olympics, officials have been taking action. They are appealing for blood from—and updating their databases of—China's few eligible donors; prolonging the shelf life of existing stocks with better storage; and co-ordinating with other provinces to obtain additional supplies.


Travel spotlight

Travellers using Beijing Capital International Airport can expect changes soon. Officials have announced that a third runway will become operational from October 2007 and that a third terminal will be finished by February 2008 (though not fully operational until the summer). With the two existing terminals already operating well beyond their 35m-passenger annual capacity (in 2006 they handled almost 49m travellers), the third terminal will be crucial for the upcoming Olympics. The $2.8 billion terminal will boost capacity to 82m, well above the 60m expected in 2008. With passenger volume forecast to continue rising, construction work on a second airport will start in 2010.