Civilized Beijing Campaign

In preparation for the 2008 Bejing summer Olympics, the country's coming-out party, city authorities have cranked up the "Civilized Beijing campaign".

Beijing residents can expect fines for public spitting. The practice is incredibly (to a foreigner) widespread, but upon speaking with an actual Chinese person, BoI heard "spitting is totally a part of Chinese culture. Telling Chinese people not to spit is like telling Americans to suck back their snot instead of blowing their nose."

The 11th of every month from now until the Olympics are practice "queuing days". Beijingers are not wont to queue, but as the Wall Street Journal put it on Feb. 9, "until relatively recently, China's history of scarce resources discouraged people from waiting their turn in line." (subscription req'd).

Local cadres are reported to be unaware of the irony of promoting "civilization" in a nation that has been civilized for over 5,000 years.

The campaign is run by the Beijing Capital Ethic Development Office -- which anecdotal evidence points to being either part of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, or perhaps the Office for the Promotion of Ethical and Cultural Progress of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Hmmm...

Shang (1776-1050 BC) Dynasty Spittoon