Beijing News You Might Have Missed This Week, Feb 3
Beijing is a happening city! Don't miss a thing with our weekend roundup of the latest news.
Beijing Embraces Spring Festival with Traditional Fervor and Enhanced Services: Beijing is gearing up for the Spring Festival with a series of cultural festivities aimed at revitalizing the city's traditional spirit, according to Beijing Daily. The capital plans to restore its iconic temple fairs at Ditan Park, Longtan Park, Changdian, and Badachu Park, alongside hosting traditional flower exhibitions and various activities at the Summer Palace, Zhongshan Park, Yuyuantan Park, and Hongluo Temple.
City districts are also set to engage citizens with lantern shows, flower exhibitions, traditional riddle guessing, and Lantern Festival celebrations, offering a comprehensive festive experience. To support the influx of festive participants, Beijing will enhance public transportation services around major event locations and operate a 24/7 hotline to assist citizens and tourists, ensuring a joyful and safe Spring Festival experience.
Beijing Launches Friendly Communities to Support Delivery Drivers and Enhance Resident Life: Beijing has initiated the construction of its inaugural series of "friendly communities" aimed at enhancing the work environment for delivery drivers while also improving the convenience for residents, reports Ecns.cn. In Changping District, these communities feature a "friendly map for delivery drivers" displayed prominently, detailing crucial areas such as entrances, exits, electric bicycle charging stations, parking zones, and rest areas.
These rest stations, spanning over 200 square meters, are well-equipped with amenities including central air conditioning, free charging stations, shared workspaces, cleaning supplies, complimentary medicine, refrigerators, and microwaves, specifically for the use of delivery personnel. Furthermore, these initiatives empower delivery drivers to engage in community governance outside their working hours by allowing them to report any safety hazards within the community through photographs.
Beijing Transforms Historic Sites into Winter Sports Havens: In Beijing, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Summer Palace's Kunming Lake transforms into the city's premier ice rink during winter, reports Xinhua News. Spanning 350,000 square meters, it can host 5,000 visitors simultaneously, attracting over 230,000 enthusiasts in January for activities like ice-cart racing and speed skating.
Following the 2022 Winter Olympics, Beijing continues to leverage its Olympic venues for major events, such as the FIS Snowboard and Freeski Big Air World Cup at Shougang Park. The city's commitment to winter sports extends beyond professional competitions, with over 100 ice and snow venues set up across more than 10 commercial districts and 15 public sports events designed to encourage local engagement in winter activities.
Beijing boasts over 1 million square meters of ice rinks and skiing areas, with eight natural ice rinks available in five parks, offering a range of activities from ice biking to ice drifting. The municipal bureau of culture and tourism has identified ice-and-snow tourism as a key development focus, aiming to enrich the winter experience for residents and visitors alike.
READ:Beijing News You Might Have Missed This Week, Jan 20
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