Gridlocked: Roads to Avoid During This Week's China-Africa Summit

If you left the house this morning to go to work, it's likely that you got stuck at one or several junctions en route, making your average Monday morning commute just that much worse. Well, expect more of the same over the coming days on account of delegates being shuttled around the city for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, Sep 3-4. Though the summit only lasts two days, we can expect blocked roads and heavy traffic up until Thursday, Sep 6 due to an extension of morning and evening peak traffic times from 7-9am to 7-10am; and 5-7pm to 4.30-8pm, respectively.

In light of these restrictions, avoiding the following roads should help save you time getting around Beijing:

1) The tunnels of Datun Lu, Huizhong Lu (including the interception of Beichen Xilu and Datun Lu, and the intersection of Beichen Xilu and Datun Lu), Guojiatiyuchang Beilu are shut down today (Sep 3) from 6am-6pm. Drivers are suggested to use Anli Lu, Beisihuan Zhonglu, and the North Fifth Ring Road instead.

2) Roads around the Great Hall of the People are shut down today from 1.30-10pm and 8am-6pm on Sep 4, including Dahuitangxice Lu, Dahuitangnance Lu, and Guangchangxice Lu. The East Second Ring Road, West Second Ring Road, Chang'an Jie, Sanlithe Lu, and Dongzhimen Waidajie will be under control temporary and strict control, which is likely to affect the traffic around Dongdan, Xidan, Chongwenmen, Workers’ Stadium, Guomao, and Yansha.

3) The East Second Ring Road, Chang'an Jie, Jianwai Dajie, and the Airport Express Road (outbound) will also have temporary traffic control throughout the day.

Though roads may be closed to traffic, from our experience this morning it seemed that bikes could get around unimpeded. That being said, we did come across a number of poorly controlled intersections whereby police gave cars the right of way, requiring cyclists to wait for prolonged amounts of time before being able to cross.

Meanwhile, there will be 20 additional bus routes around the Dongdan, Xidan, and Qianmen areas to help people get around. If you have somewhere important to be, we suggest you avoid the roads and take the subway or ride a bike instead. On the upside, make the most of being outside as this is about as fine as Beijing's weather gets!

More stories by this author here.

Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
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Photos: Pheonix News, Baidu, bjjgtl.gov.cn