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Beijing police expect tens of thousands of tourists to visit the square when it reopens. Over 10,000 police officers and security guards will monitor Beijing street corners and checkpoints for evidence of potential threats on Oct 1. As many as 800,000 volunteers have also been enlisted to help maintain safety.
Izumi Quan, a Beijing-based writer from Japan, said she will not dare leave her home until Friday when road closures are lifted.
"I have no choice. I have tanks rumbling in front of my apartment," joked Quan, who lives near Guomao in east Beijing, a sealed-off area beginning early Thursday morning through the afternoon.
Armed vehicles will roll into the city from the Beijing East Railway Station and march onto Chang'an Avenue after a brief stop before commercial facilities and residential areas on Dawang Road.
"Everywhere it's closed. If we go out during the next two days, we can only head south all the way to the suburbs of Beijing," said Jiang Ning, a white-collar employee who lives with a roommate near Chongwenmen, another closed area near Qianmen.
Jiang's office in the capital's central business district will be closed today to leave room for parade preparations. Popular shopping areas such as Xidan, Wangfujing and Qianmen will be closed starting at noon Thursday.
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