Homeward-bound told to travel light
By Li Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-02-04 02:13

Arrive early, do not push and shove, look out for learner drivers, remain calm - and oh, have a happy Spring Festival holiday.

Beijing transport authorities have issued travel advice as China prepares to go home en masse, swamping planes, trains and roads.

Beijing Capital International Airport has strongly recommended domestic passengers to arrive at the airport two hours earlier before take- off as it will take three times longer to check in.

International travellers have been advised to arrive three hours earlier.

"The airport has opened several special passage ways for processing boarding passes for those who only carry hand-baggage. So people should keep their amount of luggage as small as possible if they want to save time," said Lin Yibin, a supervisor with the monitor and command centre at the airport.

He said the airport expects to see peak passenger flow on February 6, 7, 14 and 15.

"The airport will see some 950 flights land or take off daily and handle 130,000 to 140,000 passengers every day - 35 per cent higher than the normal figure," said Lin.

"The time of flight departures may be changed more frequently than usual," he added

The Beijing Municipal Traffic Management Bureau warned those staying in the capital to ready themselves for traffic congestions near temple fairs during Spring Festival, or Chinese lunar New Year, which falls on February 9.

Tens of thousands of visitors will pour into big temples - such as the Temple of Earth and the Baiyun Temple. Temple visits are traditional during the festival and such sites become bustle with visitors.

Li Guorui, an official with the bureau, said a total of 22 large-scale cultural events will be staged across the city between February 8 and 15. "The fairs will sure bring huge traffic flows to these sites," he said.

Vehicles will not be allowed to pass the Nanxinhua Street in Xuanwu District from 8 am to 6 pm between February 9 and 14. The traffic control will also be applied to Nancaiyuan Street in the same district between 10 am to 4 pm during the same period, said Li.

(China Daily 02/04/2005 page3)

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