Beggars and artists banned from subway

With New Year's Day fast approaching, Beijing has banned artists, beggars and trash collectors from its subway system in a bid to beef up security during the holiday season.

Jia Peng, a spokesman for the Beijing Subway Company, predicted that numbers of subway commuters would rise in the lead-up to the New Year's Day and Spring Festival, set to fall on Feb 14 next year.

Begging, performing and refuse collecting are not allowed in the subway, according to Beijing Subway Company rules.