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

Beijing blue: from August 20 to September 32015, Beijing is implementing again “odd-even” restrictions in order to ease traffic during the IAAF track and field World Championships as well as forthe 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 aspart of China’s series events to celebratethe 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

Similar measures werefirst implementedduring the 2008 Olympics, thenduring 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 rentedoffice 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!

2015819184548204

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 andhelp improve the air quality.

Odd-even car plateCalendar 20/08/2015 to:

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
16/08
Any		 17/08
5&0		 18/08
1&6		 19/08
2&7		 20/08
Odd		 21/08
Even		 22/08
Odd
23/08
Even		 24/08
Odd		 25/08
Even		 26/08
Odd		 27/08
Even		 28/08
Odd		 29/08
Even
30/08
Odd		 31/08
Even		 01/09
Even		 02/09
Odd		 03/09
Even		 04/09
4 & 9		 05/08
Any
06/09
Any		 07/09
5&0		 08/09
1&6		 09/09
2&7		 10/09
3&8		 11/09
4&9		 12/09
Any

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 atconstruction 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 beclosed 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 Squareincluding the nearby Wangfujing Street will also be closed on those dates.
    • Streetsfacing Jianguo Lu, Xi Dawang Lu and Guanghua Lu have been ordered to close from the early afternoon ofAugust 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 thearea just to the south of Gongti Beilu have to close fromSaturday, August 22 3pm until Sunday, August 23 2pm.
  • On September 3rd, from 09:30 to 12:30, Beijingairports, 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 afterSeptember 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