Large cultural and sports activities will be held in Tiananmen Square on the morning of August 8. Tourists, however, will only have limited access, it was announced on Wednesday.

"The square will be open to the public as soon as possible after the morning activities on August 8," said Jia Yingting, the Tiananmen Square management committee deputy-director, at a press conference here.

Some zones in the square will be used for setting up fireworks for the2008 Olympics Opening Ceremony that evening, he said.

"We are also working on a plan of setting up fireworks which reduces the impact on tourist visits and the passing of vehicles through the square as much as possible."

(Xinhua News Agency July 30, 2008)