As the summer vacation began, the number of tourists to Beijing has repeatedly reached its peak, making the improvement of tourism facilities a top priority. Recently, the Temple of Heaven has set up brand-new shade canopies integrating cultural elements on Danbi Bridge, providing a cool environment and cultural display boards for visitors waiting to enter the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.

Lockers at the north gate of Taoranting Park

Outside the southwest gate of Taoranting Park, a set of lockers draws much attention from visitors. This locker set consists of 32 compartments in two different sizes, able to store handbags, backpacks, and other suitcases of most sizes. Visitors can scan the QR code on the electronic screen, click "Store" (存件), select the compartment sizes and numbers, and enter their phone numbers. The corresponding locker door will then open, allowing them to place their items inside before closing the doors. The entire process is very simple, and the storage is completely free of charge.

It is reported that these storage facilities were set up at the end of this May to meet the storage needs of such visitors as travelers from Beijing South Railway Station, residents nearby, and fitness enthusiasts to the park. Such lockers can also be found at five entrances of Taoranting Park, including its east and north gates. Besides Taoranting Park, similar lockers have also been installed at the north and south gates of Ritan Park.

In addition to addressing such storage-related issues, Beijing is also working to deal with the problems arising from the overwhelming popularity of some museums and exhibitions. For example, an exhibition featuring the artifacts from Sanxingdui held in Beijing this summer has attracted many visitors to the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing. To enhance visitor experience, the museum has optimized its services and supporting measures.

Specifically, barrier ropes have been put into use to regulate tourists queuing, with white shade canopies erected overhead. Inside the museum, signs indicating "Estimated 90 minutes to enter the exhibition hall" and "Estimated 30 minutes to enter the exhibition hall" have been thoughtfully placed on site. Additionally, the museum staff advised that crowd is relatively smaller around noon on weekdays, so visitors can consider visiting the museum during that time.

Shade canopies for the visitors in queue outside the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing

(Source: Beijing Evening News)