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Beijing to step up Tian'anmen security check

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-30 18:43

BEIJING - China will beef up its security measures atn Tian'anmen Square as the number of tourists increase and will only allow limited access to the area for cultural and sports shows and fireworks on August 8, it was announced on Wednesday.

"The square will be open to the public as soon as possible after the morning activities on August 8," said Jia Yingting, the Tian'anmen Square management committee deputy-director, at a press conference.

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Some zones in the square will be used for setting up fireworks for the 2008 Olympics Opening Ceremony that evening, he said.

"We are working on a plan for setting up fireworks which reduces the impact on tourist visits and the passing of vehicles through the square as much as possible.

"The square is now open to the public till midnight, but all the tourists have to pass a security check before they enter the square."

Jia said security check points were already established both in the underground passages and the ground entrances leading up to the square.

"We will increase and improve the security checks as the number of tourists keep growing."

Tian'anmen Square has been decorated by several flowerbeds to mark the Beijing Olympics and the 30th anniversary of the reform and opening-up.

The flowerbeds are expected to last for four months until after the October 1 National Day. Withered flowers would replaced by fresh ones, said Qiang Jian, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Parks and Woods deputy chief.

He said more than 130 kinds of flowers were selected to decorate the square, and most of the lighting was energy-saving LED (light-emitting diode).

"It is a pity that I might not be able to come here to see the celebration on the opening day," said Jia Xiaohui, a high school student from the eastern Shandong Province.

"I was not lucky enough to get tickets to see the Games. But I still came to Beijing trying to observe more about the Olympics."