BEIJING -- Large cultural and sports activities will be held in Tiananmen Square on the morning of August 8. Tourists, however, will only have limited access, it was announced on Wednesday.

A paramilitary policeman raises the Chinese national flag in front of the portrait of late Chinese leader Mao Zedong at Tiananmen Square in Beijing July 30, 2008. [Agencies]

"The square will be open to the public as soon as possible after the morning activities on August 8," said Jia Yingting, the Tiananmen Square management committee deputy-director, at a press conference here.

Some zones in the square will be used for setting up fireworks for the 2008 Olympics Opening Ceremony that evening, he said.

"We are also working on a plan of setting up fireworks which reduces the impact on tourist visits and the passing of vehicles through the square as much as possible."