An employee locks the gates at the pleasure boat dock in Beihai Park Sunday. Photo: Li Hao/GT |
Parks in the city called a halt to pleasure boat rentals on Sunday, after the Beijing traffic authority Friday announced a ban on boating to ensure safety on the water during the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
"We received the traffic authority's notice, and will stop all pleasure boat rentals before Wednesday," said Tian Huili, the media officer at Beihai Park in Xicheng district Sunday.
The Global Times found the boats at Behai lake were tied up at the shore on Sunday. The ticket office salesman, who refused to be named, said the boats were stopped on Sunday due to cold weather.
A ticket office employee at Tuanjiehu Park in Chaoyang district, surnamed Li, also confirmed that his boats were stopped.
"I've been asked to close the boat business because of the 18th National Congress of the CPC, and this [closedown] never happened in the past years," Li said.
The Transportation Administration of Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport announced on its website the reason for the boat ban was to "fully implement the 18th National Congress of the CPC guidelines and create a safe, stable, orderly and harmonious water environment."
Landmark building should respect the public's feeling