-
Advertisement
China's leadership reshuffle 2017
ChinaPolitics

Airbnb pulls listings, drones banned as Beijing goes into lockdown for party congress

Security is tight in the capital and across the country to ensure the event goes off without a hitch

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
A visitor poses for photos in front of a portrait of Mao Zedong on the south gate of the Forbidden City in Beijing last month. Security is tight in the capital ahead of the party congress next week. Photo: EPA
Viola Zhou

Drones have been banned in Beijing, cybersecurity measures have been stepped up, courier services have prohibited certain items and Airbnb has cancelled all city centre bookings for the rest of the month in the lead-up to next week’s Communist Party congress.

Security campaigns have also been launched across the country to ensure the five-yearly meeting – one of China’s most important political events – goes off without a hitch.

But security is especially tight in the capital, where about 2,300 delegates will congregate at the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square when the congress begins on Wednesday.

Advertisement

Popular short-term rental sites, including Airbnb and its Chinese rivals, this week notified local hosts that bookings for the rest of October had been cancelled and they would not be able to take new ones for that period.

A security officer stands guard during an exhibition showcasing China’s achievements over the past five years at the Beijing Exhibition Centre last month. Photo: EPA
A security officer stands guard during an exhibition showcasing China’s achievements over the past five years at the Beijing Exhibition Centre last month. Photo: EPA
Advertisement

Beijing resident Tony, 40, who declined to give his full name, said he expected to make 30,000 yuan (US$4,500) less this month from his four rental flats, which will be mostly vacant.

Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x