According to a decree issued by the Beijing Municipal People’s Government, amusement centers will be banned in the section between Fuxingmen and Jianguomen of the Chang’an Avenue, especially in areas 200 meters near the office buildings of the central authorities and military units.

Recreation facilities are also prohibited within 200 meters near primary and middle schools, colleges and universities, and inside residential buildings in the area.

The regulation, which is aimed to standardize the operation of local recreational businesses, says video game facilities are banned in libraries, museums, memorial halls, science and technology museums, children’s centers, and cultural centers for the public.

The decree stipulates that the business area of singing and dancing centers and video game centers should be at least 200 square meters. Recreational centers should operate between 8 a.m. and 2 a.m. next day.

There used to be more than 11,000 recreational centers in Beijing. Over 3,300 of them have been shut down since September this year.

(People’s Daily 12/21/2000)