After several postponements, this year’s Two Sessions (两会 liǎnghuì), which would usually take place at the beginning of March, have finally been penned to commence between May 21-28 – a full week shorter than usual. These major meetings between the China People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National People’s Congress (NPC) are designed to review the previous year’s achievements and to layout future goals. As such, they will profoundly impact many aspects of Chinese life in ways that will travel far beyond the conference rooms in the Great Hall of the People, where the meetings are held.

This year is especially important as it marks the last year of the 13th five-year plan (launched in 2016), and the government will be eager to wrap up a number of objectives set out to improve Chinese citizen’s general quality of life, as well as progress in innovation and the environment, all amid fallout from the coronavirus, a trade war with the United States, and growing friction with a number of countries worldwide.

Even though much of what is decided is unlikely to have a direct effect on foreigners here, at least in the short-term, there are restrictions on the ground that it’s best to be prepared for. Given that delegates will begin to arrive in the capital on May 19-20 we can expect to see tighter restrictions taking effect then.

Heavy road control and snarled traffic

We can expect security this year to be especially tight

You can expect much of Beijing’s political heart – Chang’an Jie, Tiananmen Square, Zhongnanhai, and the surrounding areas – as well as the North Second Ring Road and Airport Expressway, to be congested as delegates make their way to and from the meetings. We will know more about which areas will be especially congested as the meetings draw closer.

Potential tamp-down on nightlife and large-scale entertainment events

We can expect ramped-up scrutiny and restrictions

Just as Beijing has started to come out of its shell, we can expect ramped-up scrutiny and restrictions of large-scale events as well as an increased police presence at venues. Historically, it’s also a time when restaurants and bars may be raided and customers tested for drug use. In light of the coronavirus and the ongoing restrictions around seating etc., we can expect this year to be especially tight, though perhaps we won’t even notice for the very same reason.

Use of all aerial vehicles banned

On top of the already strict aerial vehicle regulations in Beijing, which effectively ban all drone use within the Fifth Ring Road, the Public Security Bureau (PSB) has also released a notice banning all other aerial vehicles, including everything from light aircraft and gliders to balloons, between May 20-28.

Slowed deliveries

You can expect your deliveries to travel slower

The China State Post Bureau has announced that it will start conducting further checks on post and packages coming into Beijing starting May 14. That means you can expect your deliveries to travel slower than usual and any mail that arrives without the proper security identification will be returned to the sender.

Schools

International and local schools should be unaffected, especially those in Shunyi district, but keep a close eye on communication from your school for any relevant updates.

Expect the internet to be even worse

Can’t access your favorite social media? Yep, that’s going to be the norm for the next couple of weeks.

KEEP READING: Most Beijing Students to Return by June 8, While Others Still Await Dates

This article originally appeared on our sister site, the Beijinger

Photos: Unsplash, ifeng, jfDaily 

Go out and make babies, comrades.

That may be the takeaway from the National People’s Congress and China People’s Political Consultative Conference earlier this month in relation to China’s one child policy. Premier Li Keqiang stated that the government is considering further changes to family planning laws after a recent relaxation of the policy failed to bring about the intended result, namely, significantly more babies in a nation that despite being overpopulated will soon have too many elderly people to be sustained by the labor force.

"(We will) make improvements and adjustments to the policy in accordance with legal procedures," the Economic Times quotes Li as saying.

China’s one child policy was first introduced in the late 1970s in order to control population growth through limiting couples to only having one child. As a result of the policy, one-third of China’s population was not eligible to have a second child without incurring a fine as a result.

In 2013, there was a relaxation in the policy, allowing couples to have two children if at least one of the parents was an only child. The main goal of this relaxation was to spur on the birth rate in hope that an eventual increase in that rate would allow for higher productivity, therefore helping to fund the nation and its large percentage of retirees.

Earlier this month Reuters also mentioned the high pressures building on China’s retirement funds: “Yin Weimin, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, said the government will gradually raise the official retirement age, which is as low as 50 for some female workers, but stressed that any policy changes will be phased in over five years.”

These changes are necessary as Yin stated that the proportion of Chinese over the age of 60 will rise to 39 percent of the population, from 15 percent now. In combination with the expected 25-year low economic growth rate this year, there will be an increasing financial pressure on the economy as the state’s pension fund starts to wear thin.

This post first appeared on thebeijinger.com on March 16, 2015

Photo: thebeijinger