Safety clamp extends to Tian'anmen Square

By Li Xinran  |   2008-7-31  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

The old meets the new ... performers dressed in traditional Chinese costumes yesterday get ready near the Olympic National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, during a rehearsal for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing. Rehearsals were opened for the first time to some people who have bought Games tickets. Two similar rehearsals will take place on Saturday and next Tuesday. More in photo gallery

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TOURISTS will not be allowed to enter Tian'anmen Square in Beijing after midnight as China beefs up overall security in the capital eight days out from the Olympic Games.

All visitors would have to pass security checks before they entered the square at any time, Jia Yingting, the Tian'anmen Square management committee deputy-director, told a press conference yesterday.

Tourists would only be allowed limited access to the area for cultural and sports shows and fireworks late on August 8, the night of the Olympic-opening ceremony.

"The square now will be open to the public till midnight," Jia said.

Security equipment has been installed at all entrances and exits to the square. Extra security would be in place in the square at night, said Sun Xuecai, vice director of Beijing's sports bureau.

An increased number of armed police, security guards and soldiers are now patrolling the square, according to the Xinhua news agency.

A senior police officer told Xinhua yesterday that the square had been open to the public from 8am to 8pm for the past few days. "But we will gradually extend the opening time till midnight," the officer said.

Jia said: "The square will be open to the public as soon as possible after the morning activities on August 8."

Some zones in the square would be used for setting up fireworks for the opening ceremony.

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

Security check points were already set up in the underground passages and the ground-level entrances leading into the square, Jia said. "We will increase and improve the security checks as the number of tourists grows,"

And Beijing commuters face even tighter security checks from today when subway passengers must submit all bags for screening.