A number of transport restrictions will be in force today in some parts of Beijing ahead of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

The ceremony will start at 8 pm. Only vehicles with special passes from the Games organizers, and people with tickets to the opening show will be able to travel on the following roads:

*From morning to early afternoon:

Roads surrounding the Tian'anmen Square and the Great Hall of the People;

*Between 11:30 am to the closing of the ceremony:

Almost all main roads surrounding the Bird's Nest will be closed.

*Between 5:20 pm to 8 pm and between 11 pm to the closing of the opening ceremony:

The section between Anding-Anli streets from the Northern Third Ring Road to the Yangshan Overpass.

The section from the Anhua Overpass on the Northern Third Ring Road to Beichen-Beitucheng streets.

The highway from the Madian Overpass on the Northern Third Ring Road through the side street by the Badaling Expressway to Shangqing Overpass;

*Between 6 pm to 8 pm:

Parts of Northern Second Ring Road in the neighborhood the Clock Tower;

*Between 7 pm to 8 pm:

Parts of the Eastern, Northern and Western Second Ring Road;

*Around 11 pm:

Parts of the Eastern, Northern and Western Second Ring Road.

All of Beijing's subway lines, excluding the airport express, will operate around the clock today, while 28 new bus routes will ferry people to and from the central Olympic area between 6 am and 8 pm.

Department stores along the Chang'an Avenue will close between 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Most other department stores will close before 7 pm.