Official guidelines and information
Below you will find links to
- The Service Guide for Foreign Media Coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period
- Legal Guidelines for Foreigners Entering, Exiting and Staying in China during the Olympics
- The International Press Center in Beijing
Service Guide for Foreign Media Coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period
The 273 pages long service guide covers a multitude of issues of interest to journalists and other media personnel going to Beijing.
The guide explains how the Regulation on Reporting Activities in China by Foreign Journalists During the Beijing Olympic Games and the prepatory period will be implemented.
It also covers issues such as
- visa application
- custom clearance
- employment of Chinese mainland citizens
- rental of housing and offices
- acquisition of temporary driving licenses
- how to obtain interviews with Chinese athletes
Download the full Service Guide as pdf (246.6 MB so it takes a while to download)
One-Stop service
The Olympic organisers also operate a 24-hour One-Stop service where media personnel can download application forms for a number of different services and return them for processing without having to visit different government departments.
Legal Guidelines for Foreigners Entering, Exiting and Staying in China during the Olympics
In June 2008, the Chinese authorities issued legal guidelines that apply to all foreigners - including media personnel - during the Olympics.
The guidelines explain what you can and can not do whilst in China. They also outline your rights and the expectations on you during your stay, including the obligation to carry proof of your identity at all times.
The guidelines are divided into eight sections:
- Basic legal principles and regulations
- Entry and exit control
- Concerning residence and accommodation
- Transportation
- Shopping, travelling, entertainment and other consumer activities
- Concerning medical treatment
- Intellectual property protection of the Olympic logo
- Special notes
The guidelines have been posted on the official website for the Beijing Olympic Games but only in Chinese. The NGO Human Rights in China have translated the guidelines into English and published them on their website.
Read the guidelines in English
International Press Center
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs operates an International Press Center in Beijing.
The website for the International Press Center contains information about
- telephone numbers and names of spokes persons for various authorities in China
- official invitations to press briefings and information tours for journalists
- how to obtain interviews with major Chinese leaders and leading officials
- general reporting guidelines