Chinese capital to close city’s west to traffic for Jiang Zemin memorial service
- Curbs to start on Monday and encompass the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery
- The main service is expected to take place on Tuesday at the Great Hall of the People
Beijing’s police bureau said on Saturday night that from 6.30am Monday roads in much of the city’s west would be off-limits to public buses, trains, cars and pedestrians, with only designated vehicles and personnel allowed to use the routes.
The restrictions will remain in place until after the memorial on Tuesday.
Western Beijing is home to the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery, where many late state leaders are cremated and their remains interred.
The service for Jiang is expected to start at 10am on Tuesday, be attended by serving and retired leaders, and be broadcast live by state media.
All securities trading on the mainland will be suspended for three minutes during the memorial, as will trading in bonds, foreign exchange and gold, according to regulatory authorities.
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Chinese ex-leader Jiang Zemin’s body makes final journey to Beijing as China mourns
As one of the country’s most influential leaders, Jiang elevated China’s global standing and led the country’s economic integration with the rest of the world, overseeing key moments including China’s accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001 and the handover of Hong Kong in 1997.
The memorial for Jiang is expected to follow much the same format as Deng’s in 1997. Deng’s body was cremated a day before the official memorial service at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and the service was attended by current and retired top leaders.
06:51
‘I’ve not really done anything special’: when Jiang Zemin reflected on his time as China’s leader
Jiang’s death is being marked in real life and in cyberspace.
Flags at key officials buildings and embassies have been lowered to half-mast and will remain so until after the memorial. The homepages of almost all mainland-based websites including news, government, university, shopping and social media platforms have switched to black and white.
On Sunday, People’s Daily ran an article by state news agency Xinhua recounting stories from Jiang’s life, urging Communist Party cadres and the public to learn from his character.
