URBAN BLURBS
Coronavirus Chaos The big news of the last month was of course the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which first came to the attention of the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 31, 2019, after a number of suspected pneumonia cases were reported in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province. One week later, the mystery illness was confirmed to be a new strain of coronavirus, the same family of diseases as severe accute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Wuhan, a city of over 10 million people, went into lockdown on January 23, in order to curb the spread of the virus. It was also announced that the Chinese New Year holiday would be extended in order to contain the spread of the respiratory disease. After the WHO declared the virus a global health emergency, at least 73 airlines canceled flights to China, while several countries temporarily shut their borders to travelers from China. Venues across the country closed and several events were also canceled as the country went into quarantine amid coronavirus fears. For the latest of the coronavirus outbreak, scan the QR code.
Paperless Train Tickets Disney Updates Prices Admission prices to Shanghai Disney Resort will be restructured starting on June 6. The new pricing system will have four levels. Regular tickets for non-peak days, mostly in fall and winter, will cost RMB399 (USD57) – the same as the current price. The price for most days in spring and some weekends will soon be RMB499. Major peak periods will also see a slight hike in price. Tickets for most peak summer days and some holidays and weekends will cost RMB599. And finally, official Chinese holidays and major international celebrations and events will put visitors back RMB699.
Minors Banned from Arcades China has banned minors from video game arcades, according to new guidelines released by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Effective since January 1, entertainment venues are prohibited from providing gaming-related services to anyone under the age of 18, except on public holidays. Domestic establishments will also be forbidden from operating gaming equipment that promotes gambling, such as slot machines.
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Good news for frequent train travelers in China: You no longer need paper tickets at select train stations across the country! High-speed train stations are beginning to eliminate paper tickets as China’s massive railway network transfers to a digital ticketing system. The new e-ticket exclusive program was launched at nearly 100 stations around the Yangtze River Delta in December. Electronic ticketing service is also being offered at select intercity lines. The paperless system is currently being piloted and will gradually be rolled out nationwide. The new system will no doubt save tons of time when you’re on a tight schedule and can’t afford to wait in the ticket pickup line. Likewise, it cuts down on problems created by losing or forgetting your ticket.
