Beijing to use odd-even traffic ban from August 20th till September 3rd 2015

Beijing blue: from August 20 to September 3 2015, Beijing is implementing again “odd-even” restrictions in order to ease traffic during the IAAF track and field World Championships as well as for the World War II victory parade:

•  22/08/2015 to 30/08/2015: The IAAF championship taking place in Beijing.
• 03/09/2015: Military parade in Beijing as part of China’s series events to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

Similar measures were first implemented during the 2008 Olympics, then during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in November 2014; Beijing citizens remember “APEC blue” skies as number of factories and constructions were also closed at that time.

For Beijing residents, this not only means that they will breath cleaner air, but also they will have to consider special arrangements to reach their rented office in Beijing or when they arrange a visit a customer place. More people will be using taxi cars as they can only drive one day on two. If you own a car or have a driver, save this post to remember which days you can use your car! 

From August 20th till September 3rd, cars will be allowed to circulate on alternating days based on odd or even license plate numbers. Objective is dual: reduce traffic congestion and help improve the air quality.

Odd-even car plate Calendar 20/08/2015 to :

Other measures applicable during this period:

• Transportation:
  • 80% of official business cars will also be reduced.
  • Vehicles with non-Beijing registered license plate are not allowed to drive within 5th Ring Road during 07:00 – 09:00 and 17:00 – 20:00.
  • Delivery trucks ensuring the daily necessities of the city will not be affected.
  • Cargo trucks with Beijing registered license plate are not allowed to drive within 6th Ring Road during 06:00 – 24:00.
  • The number and frequencies of buses will be increased, as 3000 additional public buses will be put into operation.
• Construction works:
  • Certain jobs at construction sites, including those raising dust, will also be suspended during the period.
  • Trucks carrying construction materials will be banned from the roads.
• Three-day public holiday from Sep. 3 to 5: Expect another Chinese tourists peak during this period… 
• Touristic places closed and areas with restricted access:
  • Tiananmen Tower will be closed from August 1 to September 9: to visit the Forbidden City, enter through the Working People’s Cultural Palace or Zhongshan Park neighboring to the tower (free admission)
  • The Forbidden City will not open to public from Aug. 22 to Sep. 3.
  • On Aug. 22 and 23 as well as Sep. 2 and 3, Tiananmen Square will not open to the public. Restaurants and hotels around Tiananmen Square including the nearby Wangfujing Street will also be closed on those dates.
  • Streets facing Jianguo Lu, Xi Dawang Lu and Guanghua Lu have been ordered to close from the early afternoon of August 22 until the same time on August 23 (no business allowed).
  • Bars and restaurants located in Taikoo Li South and south Sanlitun’s Courtyard Four (Bookworm, The Rug, 1949: The Hidden City …), and those in the area just to the south of Gongti Beilu have to close from Saturday, August 22 3pm until Sunday, August 23 2pm.
• On September 3rd, from 09:30 to 12:30, Beijing airports, including Capital Airport and Nanyuan Airport, will be closed. Many airlines have cancelled their flights to/from Beijing during the three hours.
• Beijing primary and high schools will open only after September 7 because of the parade. Similar measures may apply to international schools, case by case.

Government has also taken new measures in 2015 to curb pollution: two coal electricity plants shut down this year, cutting 4.6 million tonnes of coal burning; scrapped 178,000 vehicles; upgraded 8,800 diesel powered buses; and closed 186 polluting factories.

SRE wish you a happy blue sky!

Sources:

http://en.people.cn/n/2015/0803/c90882-8930590.html

http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2015/08/04/beijing-switch-odd-even-car-limitations-august-20-through-september-3

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-08/03/c_134476779.htm

http://www.dbschenker.cn/log-cn-en/news_media/news/9867794/Beijing.html

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