Beijing News You Might Have Missed This Week, Feb 24

Beijing is a happening city! Don't miss a thing with our weekend roundup of the latest news.

Beijing Battles Respiratory Illnesses Amidst Seasonal Surge: As the post-holiday period sees a return to work and the imminent resumption of classes for primary and secondary school students in Beijing, the city continues to navigate through the peak season for respiratory infectious diseases typical of the winter and spring months, reports the Beijing Daily. The Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports a trend of influenza within the city, with influenza virus activity recently observing a slight decline. The past week recorded a 30.3 percent positivity rate for the influenza virus among cases resembling influenza in hospitals, a minor decrease from the previous week's rate of 31.4 percent. Influenza B virus remains the predominant strain in circulation.

Given the heightened risk of transmission in densely populated settings such as schools, daycares, and elderly care facilities, the Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention is urging a reinforced vigilance towards health monitoring and the adoption of robust health protection measures. 

Beijing Unveils Major Rail Expansion to Boost Urban Mobility: On Feb 22, Beijing's ambition to significantly enhance its urban mobility took a concrete step forward with the unveiling of the "2024 Beijing Urban Rail Transit Construction Plan", reports BRTV. This strategic blueprint heralds the initial operation of three substantial subway line sections this year: the first phase of Metro Line 3 (Dongsishitiao-Dongfeng), Line 12 (Sijiqingqiao-Dongfeng), and the final segment of the Changping Line South Extension Phase I (Xitucheng-Jimenqiao), cumulatively extending Beijing's rail transit network by an additional 45.3 kilometers. This expansion will elevate the city's urban rail transit operational mileage to surpass 880 kilometers.

Beijing Celebrates Tourism Boom with Festival Fervor: Following the recent conclusion of the eight-day Spring Festival holiday, Beijing has reported a remarkable influx of nearly 17.5 million visitors, marking a 37.4 percent increase from the previous year, according to figures released by the city's culture and tourism bureau, reports China Daily.

The capital's tourism revenue soared to 28.65 billion yuan during the festive period, a substantial 40.6 percent rise from the previous year The Spring Festival, which spanned from February 10 to 17 this year, saw a wide array of activities drawing both tourists and locals alike.

Spring Festival temple fairs emerged as a popular attraction, witnessing over 5.16 million visits. Additionally, village sightseeing tours captivated more than 2.17 million visitors, reflecting a 42.2 percent increase from last year and contributing over 224 million RMB in revenue. The holiday also saw a cultural flourish with over 1,500 performances staged across Beijing theaters, drawing an audience of approximately 310,000.
 

READ:Beijing News You Might Have Missed This Week, Feb 3

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