Get Ready More Road Closures, Heavy Traffic Out of Beijing Ahead of the Big Parade
After weeks of the drills, the real thing is finally here! Unfortunately, you probably won’t be attending this year’s parade (although you can watch it on TV), but if you have been trying to get around the city the past couple of weekends, you will probably know that the central parts of the city were closed to all vehicles, and the same goes for this Monday and Tuesday: from the afternoon of Sep 30 until festivities wrap up on Oct 1, many roads will be off-limits.
If you’re trying to hightail it out of Beijing by car for the holiday, you should also note that traffic is going to be hectic. Congestion is expected to peak on Sep 30, then decline until Oct 3. After that, it should pick back up again due to returning travelers.
For those staying in Beijing for the holiday, note that even after the parade has over, several side roads around the Tiananmen area will be closed Oct 1 to Oct 7, including:
- Guangchang Dongce Lu
- Guangchang Xice Lu
- Rendahuitang Nance Lu
In the Xiangshan area, Nanxingfucun Lu will also be closed from Hongfeng Lu to Xiangshan Nanlu during that same time period, daily from 8am to 7pm.
Parade road closures
Road closures will largely follow the same schedule as the past two weekends.
Beginning Monday, Sep 30, parking will be prohibited on most major roads north of Qianmen Donglu and south of Dongsixi Dajie within the East and West Second Ring Road, as well as on Gongti Donglu, Jianguomenwai Dajie, and the roads that run from the Agricultural Exhibition Center to Pinganlixi Dajie (including Gongti Beilu, Dongsishitiao, and Di’anmendong Dajie).
By 4pm on Monday, most major roads north of Qianmen Donglu and south of Dongsixi Dajie within the East and West Second Ring Road will be closed, as will Gongti Donglu. Closures will run until the end of the parade activities on the evening of Oct 1.
Read: Photographer Captures a Sneak Peek of Dazzling Oct 1 Fireworks Display
Images: Tom Arnstein
