Beijing has ordered that Chinese national flags be hung along streets, in residential communities and on the sides of office buildings around the time of the military parade on September 3 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. [Special coverage]
Tall buildings near Tiananmen Square will be decorated with colored flags from September 1 to 5 to further enhance the celebrations, the Beijing Municipal Commission of City Administration and Environment (BMCCAE) said on Monday.
To prepare for the upcoming parade, the Chinese government has taken measures to ensure that the safety and the smooth operation of the occassion.
In its latest move, Beijing Emergency Management said it will prohibit the releasing of doves between 12 am to 12 pm on September 3 to guarantee the safety of the military planes, a report from the Beijing Times said.
Several streets including Chang'an Avenue and 37 bridges along the Second Ring road will hang a total of 85 banners. Fifteen column advertisements will be constructed along the highways to display the parade's logo. The logo will also be installed at 822 bus stations along the Second and Third Ring road.
The logo has a striking dominant red number "70" in the center. Five doves fly above the "70" and the Great Wall spreads out in the shape of letter "V" behind it, the Xinhua News Agency said.
Meanwhile, a total 129 public toilets will be placed along the parade's route and near Tiananmen Square on the day of the parade, Legal Mirror, a Beijing-based newspaper, said Monday.
Four busses housing toilets with special machinery for people with disabilities will be placed for use by the aged veterans.
Some hospitals will stop non-emergency services from September 3 to 5 while accident and emergency units will remain open with 24-hour service as usual, Beijing Daily said Monday.
Beijing and six neighboring provincial regions have temporarily enforced air pollution control measures to guarantee "Parade Blue." The average density of PM2.5 particles in Beijing has dropped to a record low for 10 consecutive days, following measures to ensure clearer skies ahead of the major military parade in September.
