Editors and ReadersNi Hao From Tianjin!
We are hoping you may help us understand the new law that prohibits vans and buses from entering into Beijing - effective December 16, 1998.
Many of us in Tianjin have vans and need to come into Beijing to pick up guests at the airport, see doctors and to shop. Since this law has come into effect, we have been trading cars between us and sometimes have to take 2 or 3 cars to the airport to pick up guests. We do not have a clear understanding as to what this law is and are having great difficulty in finding out. We have called numerous government offices with the aid of our Chinese friends/employees and the answer we get is simply 'vans are not allowed in Beijing? We think we are getting this sort of answer because the people answering the telephone do not understand what this law means. We've even called the US Embassy and THEY can't seem to get a clear answer.
Do you have any contacts that can help us understand what this law entails?
Thanks in advance for your help,
Melloney Boyd
Dear Melloney,
No wonder you are confused with the new regulation. Even with the full text in my hands, I'm not sure whether I have the right understanding of it. Here is the best we can do to help.
I. Restrictions on Chang'an Avenue
1. Jeeps, vans and mini-buses, motorcycles and cars with engines under 1 liter are forbidden from Xinxingqiao (Gongzhufen) to the south exit of Dongdaqiao Lu (Guiyou Mansion) from 7:00am to 8:00pm.
2. Big buses are forbidden from Muxidi Intersection to the south exit of Dongdaqiao Lu (Guiyou Mansion) from 8:00pm to 7:00pm.
3. Cargo trucks are forbidden from Xinxingqiao (Gongzhufen) to Dabeiyao (China World Trade Center).
II. The following streets are closed to jeeps, vans, mini-buses from 7:00am-11:00am and 4:00pm-7:00pm except for national holidays and weekends.
1. Main section of East Second Ring Road (Dongbianmen to Dongzhimen), North Second Ring Road (Dongzhimen to Xizhimen), West Second Ring Road (Xizhimen to Tianningsi Flyover), and the side roads of Yuetan south bridge to Fuxingmen Flyover (north-south direction).
2. From Liuliqiao north all the way around to Jinsongqiao on the main section of the Third Ring Road.
3. Dongsi Nandajie, Dongdan Beidajie and Chongwenmen Neidajie.
4. Dongsi Nandajie, Xidan Beidajie, Xuanwumen Neidajie
5. North-south direction of Xizhimen Beidajie
III. The following streets are closed to mini-van taxis (miandis):
1. Miandis are prohibited on Chang'an Avenue (from Fuxingmen to Jianguomen flyovers) from 7:00am to 8:00pm.
2. Miandis are prohibited on the following streets from 7:00am-11:00am, 4:00pm-7:00pm except for national holidays and weekends.
i) From Liuliqiao north all the way around to Jinsongqiao on the main section of the Third Ring Road.
ii) South-north direction on Dongsi Nandajie, Dongdan Beidajie, Chongwenmen Neidajie.
IV. Taxies are not restricted unless specially noted (as above).
V. Embassy vehicles and military or police vehicles are not restricted by the above provisions.
VI. With the issuing of this law on December 16, 1999, the restrictions applying to vehicles according to odd or even numbers on their license plates is no longer in force.
Editors