(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-05 23:38

Beijing will restrict the number of daily visits to cultural relics during the Olympic Games next year so as to ensure a sound visiting order and protect cultural relics, according to the Beijing Cultural Heritage Administration.

Visitors walk up the steps at the Simatai section of the Great Wall on the outskirts of Beijing August 4, 2007. [Reuters]

"All cultural relics of the capital are to undergo a thorough 'facelift' in the coming few months before next August, and any renovation, except for emergency repair, will suspend during the Games," said Kong fanzhi, director of the administration.

Kong said the "facelift" includes the renovation of the exterior of ancient constructions and roofs which could be seen from adjacent streets so as to enable visitors, especially foreign tourists, to "see Beijing through cultural relics".

The "facelift" also refers to service improving, he said, adding cultural relics protection bureaus above the city level should have more than two staff in charge of reception and visitor service.

The building of "soft environment" of cultural relics around Olympic venues should be specially improved, such as the building of obstacle-free facilities to benefit the handicapped, he said.

A regulation on cultural relics management for the Olympics, which outlines measures for protection, renovation, obstacle-free facilities and movie-shooting during the time, would be put into effect on October 1 and last a year.