If you were thinking of doing something other than watching TV over the National Day break, you can strike the Legation Quarter off your list.

Management tell us the entire Legation Quarter has been ordered to shut down from Wednesday, September 30 until Friday, October 2. At this stage venues in the area will reopen on Saturday, October 3. The Legation folks stress, however, these dates may be subject to change and they could be forced to close for a longer period.

The newly-opened Capital M in Qianmen will also be closing from September 28 to October 4.

As we noted earlier, businesses inside the North Gate of the Workers' Stadium will also be shut, though the exact timing still seems uncertain. Beijing Boyce reported today that the popular pizza joint Kro's Nest will be closed from September 15 to October 2.

Incidentally, a friend of the beijinger who lives along Chang’an Avenue has told us residents in his building have had the following restrictions placed on them:

-No guests between 31 September and 2 October.
-Residents without a special permit are not permitted to enter the parade zone even if they live there.
-Windows are not allowed to be opened for the parade or parade rehearsals. Just to be certain, building management has collected all window keys.
-Metal detectors and x-ray machines have been installed in the lobby. Even groceries need to be x-rayed.
-Guests leaving an apartment in the days leading up to the parade need to have it inspected by the PSB before they can depart.
-Gatherings of 10 or more people must be approved by the PSB in advance.

Guess you can’t be too careful, even at a time when everyone will be so unquestionably happy.