- Public security minister has stressed the need for tough measures 'to prevent violent and terrorist-related incidents', making special mention of Xinjiang
- Extra checks for visitors to Tiananmen Square, shoppers and train passengers in the capital, and some residents have been reminded about safety at home
China has stepped up security across the country, especially in the capital of Beijing, ahead of National Day celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of Communist Party rule on October 1.
The tightened security, which also extends to cyberspace, covers sensitive areas ranging from the Xinjiang region in the far west to Beijing, where a grand military parade is planned, and Guangdong, the southern province neighbouring protest-hit Hong Kong.
Public Security Minister Zhao Kezhi stressed the need for heightened measures on Monday, when he chaired a national anti-terrorism conference in Beijing.
"(We need to) adopt the most stringent requirements and meticulous measures to prevent violent and terrorist-related incidents and ensure social stability," Zhao said at the forum.
In his speech, Zhao made special mention of Xinjiang, warning that the challenges and complexity of the situation there remained acute, and calling on public security officers to maintain tough anti-terrorism measures. Beijing faces a growing international outcry over its detention of an estimated 1 million Uygurs in the remote region.
This year's National Day celebrations come amid a protracted trade war with the United States, and as Hong Kong has been rocked by more than three months of anti-government protests sparked by a now-dead extradition bill that would have allowed criminal suspects to be sent to the mainland for trial.
In Beijing, the stepped-up security was clearly visible on Wednesday. There were long queues of tourists at Tiananmen Square, with all visitors subject to extra checks at newly added security stations where their bags and belongings were scanned.
A security guard outside the entrance to Oriental Plaza, one of the city's biggest shopping malls located in the Wangfujing area, explained the new procedure to puzzled shoppers.
"Sorry for the trouble, everyone has to go through a security check now before they go in " it's just until October 2," he said.
Two police officers were carrying out random identity checks on passers-by outside a subway station in the shopping area, but insisted they were just "regular checks".
According to a Beijing policeman involved in coordinating security in the city ahead of National Day, all officers were told three months ago that they could not take any leave in the lead-up to October 1.
"The most important part (of the security work) is the military parade. We have to make sure the traffic arrangements near Tiananmen Square go smoothly, and also the surrounding areas. Other than that, the flow of people in the area and also hotels will be subject to extra security checks," the police officer said.
All major roads near Tiananmen Square and along Changan Avenue, where the military parade will take place, were blocked last weekend for rehearsals. The same restrictions will apply this weekend.
Security has also been tightened at train stations. A police officer from nearby Tianjin said passengers on all trains going to Beijing would be checked again after they boarded, in addition to the normal luggage checks.
"We advise passengers who are not going to Beijing to avoid taking trains that stop in the capital, since they will have to arrive earlier to board the train for the security check," the police officer said.
Meanwhile, some residents are being reminded to take safety precautions in their homes. One woman said a security guard from her housing estate was knocking on doors on Tuesday night, handing out notices reminding residents to switch off the power, not to block fire doors, and to secure all windows and doors.
"In all my years of living in Beijing, I've never had a visit from a security guard, so I chatted with him and he told me they needed to make sure nothing went wrong for National Day," she said.
A ban on flying kites, drones and pigeons in the capital also takes effect from Friday until October 2, according to a notice on the municipal government's website.
And courier services in Beijing have been told to take extra security measures during that period.
"Any item that poses uncertain safety risks or any sender who doesn't want to have their item checked when asked will not be able to send a parcel," according to a notice from the State Post Bureau last month.
Watch: Last year's National Day fireworks in Hong Kong
Tightened internet controls, meanwhile, have prompted complaints from Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of state tabloid Global Times . Hu took to social media on Wednesday to question the restrictions, saying they had made life difficult for the newspaper's reporters.
"National Day is approaching and it's extremely difficult to access the web; even our work at the Global Times is affected," Hu wrote in a post on Weibo, which he later deleted.
"The overwhelming majority of Chinese people are patriotic and love the party, with strong political convictions," the post on Hu's personal account said.
"This country is not fragile. I suggest society should have greater access to the outside internet, which will benefit the strength and maturity of China's public opinion, scientific research and external communications, as well as China's national interests."
Additional reporting by Simone McCarthy
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