Urban residents in North China began enjoying cosier living yesterday as
heating systems were switched on across the region.
Beijing is promising indoor temperatures of 16 C or above until the heating
is switched off on March 15.
Guo Weiqi, an official with the Beijing municipal government, said those who
heat their rooms excessively above 20 C will have their heating rationed.
The municipal government has ordered that shopping malls and office buildings
have temperatures no higher than 18 C. Hotel rooms should be kept at 22 C or
below.
Meanwhile, in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei Province, residents received
heat supply yesterday as well as a promise of room temperatures not less than 16
C.
In Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi Province, the government has allocated more
than 37 million yuan (US$4.6 million) to subsidize about 30,000 low-income
families, covering 85 per cent of their heat bills.
Li Dawei, general manager of the Beijing District Heating Group, a major heat
provider in Beijing, said energy shortages this year would be more serious than
in previous winters.
According to Li, all major heating plants in Beijing will work to capacity
this winter.
In Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, the heating
season began on October 20. Harbin authorities promised a minimum room
temperature of 18 C between 6 am and 29 pm, and 16 C in the rest of time.
As well as helping the city's human residents get through the winter, heating
is also a comfort to some of Beijing's animals.
At Beijing Zoo, heating for the animals began last month. Experts at the zoo
said some tropical animals need heating nine months a
year.
