Beijing's preparations begin long before the parade starts

More than 12,200 coal-fired boilers and factories in polluting industries, such as thermal power plants, companies in the iron and steel, cement making, glass m and chemical industries suspended production on Aug 28 for eight days to help create good air quality for the Sept 3 military parade.

Restrictions cover Beijing and six surrounding areas － Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi, Henan provinces and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

From Aug 20 almost half of all vehicles are banned from roads based on even-and odd-numbered license plates. Some 80 percent of government and public institute vehicles will be taken off the road except electric vehicles, buses, taxis and ambulances.

More than 1,300 construction sites and petrochemical, construction materials, industrial painting, printing and furniture making are restricted.

Source: XINHUA