Beijing Times
March 13, 2008

The top headline in today's Beijing Times announces that more that 50% of government cars will be removed from the roads throughout the Olympic Games. Ji Lin, vice mayor of Beijing, spoke to repoters during a press conference yesterday, in which he revealed this fact, as well as the news that an odd/even restriction system will be put into practice around July.

A similar plan was tested last August, and was by all accounts a success, at least for the people who were still able to drive on those days. See this previous front page and these blogs for more info.

The front page photo also comes from the same conference. Here, we see the well-known Chinese director Zhang Yimou, who is chief director of opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, praying that no rain will fall on the days his performances take place.

Other headlines:

• Six hospitals in Haidian District will pool their drug purchasing, and will set a single price for sales. This is a trial for possible hospital reform.

• Two China Super League teams, Beijing Guo'an and Changchun Yatai, were both victorious in the first round of the Asian Champion League.