A strangely quiet city

09/08/2008 / SECURITY

There are 16 million people living in Beijing, not including the 450,000 foreigners who came for the Games. One-hundred-thousand police officers are deployed around tourist venues, 120,000 vigilantes and 3,000 security members were set to patrol in the underground.

However, these important security measures didn’t prevent the murder of an American tourist, a relative of the US volleyball team coach. The man was stabbed outside the historical site of the Drum and Bell Tower. His wife was seriously wounded. The man involved, a 47 year-old Chinese man, killed himself after the act, by jumping from the Tower.

Between instating hyper-security measures and the exhorting locals to leave the city, the Chinese government has changed the face of the capital. Take a tour of an empty Beijing.

Contributors

Flore Coppin

Christophe R...

"Beijing without its residents..."

Flore Coppin, wandering the streets of the capital, witnesses the deserted Beijing.

Saturday afternoon, in the Nanluoguxiang and Houhai neighbourhoods. On the second day of the Games, the two historical and tourist areas of Beijing are strangely deserted - usually frequented by locals and foreigners.

Houhai with few tourists

An American tourist was murdered on Saturday at the Bell and Drum Tower. It could explain why so few people were there. However, I don't think that's the main reason.

A resident watching the Games on TV

Or maybe everyone was watching the Games at home, like this man in his shop.

The government has asked the capital's residents to stay at home during the Games for security reasons and to avoid jamming up on the roads. So, most of them would rather stay at home to enjoy the Olympics instead of living the Games atmosphere. But Beijing without the residents is not Beijing anymore.

Vigilantes surveilling the streets of Beijing

Flore Coppin

China
Project Manager in la Maison de la Chine, the travel agency

“It's like Paris in August”

Christophe Rovan owns four restaurants in Beijing. He comments the new face of Beijing.

The streets seem empty. Half of the inhabitants were asked to leave. The other half were asked to stay home. Also, the altered traffic route prevents half of cars to take the road.

Surely the atmosphere is particular for those who know the city. It’s like Paris in August. It’s defintitly not the overcrowded city we are use to seeing."

Christophe R...

China
Restaurant owner "Le Café de la Poste" in Beijing