Smoking law - up in smoke?

It was recently announced that from May 1 smoking will be completely banned in medical facilities, nurseries, kindergartens, educational institutions, cinemas, concert venues, museums, libraries, children’s play areas, buses, taxis, trains, train stations, tourist attractions, sports venues and, according to the official press release, all public areas across the city.















So, now there is a big discussion about what is "public areas". The law do not give any definition so it is up to the smokers to decide if it is a "public area" or not?Same thing with smoking in parks and Internet cates that will be "partly banned" - what parts?
Restaurateurs and bar owners, meanwhile, are allowed to implement the ban at their own discretion. However, it's unlikely that many venues will choose to do so.
Originally, the government had wanted Beijing restaurants and bars to dedicate over 70 percent of floor space to non-smokers.This never came to pass due to complaints that the law would lead to a decline in custom. It's well known that many Chinese enjoy a cigarette at mealtimes – little surprise considering China is home to around 25% percent of the world's estimated 1.3 billion smokers - smoking more than 30% of all cigarettes in the world.

YES - It's raining

Last night it started to rain - a rain we have been waiting for quite a time. Now we will get rid of the fluff and it will be more easy to breathe again. So today all the shopping centers was full with people since nobody wanted to stay out in the rain.

We took the chance to go to the hairdresser - it is getting quite hot in Beijing now so a shorter hair is to recommend.

Bao Bao is getting a haircut

A Fluffy season

The spring is almost over now in Bejing and we are heading for summer. The cherry trees blossom and it is lovely to walk in the parks and watch all these lovely red and pink.














Another not at all so nice thing is that the season of fluff is upon us again. Beijing's numerous poplar and willow trees have begun releasing great tracts of fluffy pollen into the air. The pollen is a minor distraction to most of us, but can clog up the air conditioning systems of cars and buses and cause breathing difficulties for those with allergies. The pollen seems to be especially dense along the Eastern 4th and 5th Ring Roads and also by the Airport Expressway.

In an attempt to reduce the amount of springtime fluff (only the female trees release pollen), the city last year started a huge "sex-change city's 300.000 poplars trees. But, it seems that there's just as much pollen floating around this year as there was last year.
We can expect the fluff to continue getting caught in your hair and flying into your mouth until the end of the month. Only a heavy rain can make the life a little easier for people with allergies.



















Fluff gets into your eyes

Still standing...

The worlds tallest (?) building, 101, is still standing. It is three years since I was here last time but now I am back in Taipei, Taiwan again.

Is here for a short business trip having some training in Sony Ericsson office here. Back to Beijing again on Wednesday but I hope I have time for a "pineapple shrimp" with my friend Magnus and "en lille en" with Steen before I go back.

A new favorite

There is a lot of good restaurants in Beijing and we have 10-15 that we normal circulate. From time to time you get borred going to the same restaurant to often and we try to find new ones.
After going regular to Wasabi we found a new and better japanese restaurant, Matsuko, we visit quite often.

Another of our new favorites is "Uomo Teppanyaki Show Bar" in Lucky Street. Here You have good teppanyaki and other japanese food for a low price. You have t teheppanyaki buffet for just 158 RMB, incl free drinking.
Teppanyaki is a good way of eating since it takes a little time, it is a little show over the cooking and You really have time relax and to enjoy the food. Just one problem, You eat too much....

NO SMOKING

At first I did not believe it when I read the news on "The Beijinger" - the website for us foreigners in Beijing.
Chinese Government are planning to make a new No Smoking law come into effect on May 31.
The details of the new laws still remain vague, as lawmakers are still deciding on how exactly to broaden the ban on smoking to the city's hazy hotels, Internet cafes and restaurants. Draft for the law suggests that smoking will still be allowed in restaurants and other venues but restricted to well ventilated areas that are no bigger than 30% of the entire area of the restaurant. Other reports have claimed that the new law will only restrict smoking around the service counter of the restaurant.



















Another aspect to the new regulations that is still under discussion is the fining of individuals as opposed to the authority responsible for each venue.
A spokesperson from the Legislative Affairs Office has announced that individuals will not be fined for smoking but that restaurant owners will be held accountable for smoking taking place on their premises and are liable for fines of between RMB 1000-5000.

We'll just have to wait and see what Beijing lawmakers finally agree on, however, one thing is for sure, smoking in and around Olympic venues and facilities is going to be strictly monitored.
This new smoking ban would affect at least 4 million smokers in Beijing and it will help to save a lot of money for the country.
Today there are about 2000 smoking-related deaths per day in China.