Beijing News You Might Have Missed This Week, Apr 9

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

Beijing Amends Isolation Requirements for People Coming from Low-Risk Areas: The capital is changing epidemic control policies relating to people entering or leaving the city, according to South China Morning Post. While those entering the city from high-risk areas were the only ones previously required to undergo quarantine, the policy has now been extended to those entering from low-risk areas.

Thankfully, it isn’t all bad time wise and more self-isolation than quarantine. First, individuals entering from such areas asked to report to their communities or hotels within 12 hours of arrival. Following this, they’ll be asked to take a PCR test within three days of arrival and will not be allowed to attend mass gatherings, parties or enter public venues for the next seven days. They will still be allowed outside, though.

Following this semi-isolation, these individuals will be asked to provide their employers with a negative PCR result with 48 hours validity before they can return to work.

Steel Structure of Workers’ Stadium Completed: Workers’ Stadium is a little bit nearer completion with news that the building’s steel structure has been completed, following an announcement from the Beijing Major Projects Construction Office on Apr 8. The original Workers’ Stadium was demolished in 2020, with plans for the new stadium to be completed by December this year. It’s meant to be open in time to host the opening, closing and final matches of the Asian Cup, which will be held from June to July 2023.

Beijing to Build 100 New Fitness Venues this Year: The city is looking to up residents’ fitness game, with plans announced for the construction of 100 new fitness venues, including football pitches and basketball courts, throughout the year, according to a report by 新京报. The report also says the capital will renovate and upgrade 1000 outdoor public sport facilities.

Along with these new facilities and upgrades, Beijing also plans to hold a variety of fitness activities for young and old alike, from roller skating, skiing, and ice hockey games to exhibition sports events. The aim is to encourage people of all ages to keep physically fit by participating in sports.

Groundwater in Beijing Reaches Highest Level in 20 Years: The average groundwater depth in the Beijing Plain area reached 16.39 meters in 2021, its highest level in 20 years, reports Xinhua News. This is good news, considering the city’s groundwater has been in decline for a number of years due to overmining, climate and other factors including a surge in population. Due to these developments, average buried depth of groundwater went from 15.36 in 2000 all the way down to 25.75 meters in 2015.

Capital Office Rents Rise for First Time in Three Years: The office leasing market had a strong recovery in the first quarter of 2022, with rents rising for the first time in three years, according to China Business Times. Demand in Beijing’s office leasing markets continued to grow in the first quarter, with total net absorption – aka the total change in supply of commercial real estate in a given market – approaching 157,000 sqm. This is more than double the total net absorption in 2020.

READ: What Are Beijing's Policies for Pets When Their Owners Go Into Quarantine?

Images: The Beijingers, chinanews.com, Williem Chen (via Unsplash)