Beijing’s Public Security Bureau published its weekly traffic forecast for 16–22 May, warning commuters of “significant peak-hour pressure” on ring roads and key arterials and advising drivers to avoid the airport expressway during VIP movements linked to multiple large-scale events. The advisory comes a day before Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives for a 19–20 May state visit, following last week’s visit by US President Donald Trump. According to the forecast, ring-road bottlenecks, the Airport Expressway, and major east–west corridors such as Chang’an Avenue and the Jianguomenwai/Guangqumen area will experience heavy congestion, especially Monday morning, Wednesday (odd-even plate “4/9” restriction day) and Friday evening. Weekend pressure is expected around popular parks, shopping districts such as Sanlitun and several large-event venues including the National Stadium and China International Exhibition Centre.
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The traffic bureau says it will deploy additional officers, expand accident-response teams and issue real-time updates via the “Beijing Traffic Police” Weibo feed and roadside LED panels. Motorists are reminded that the new Beijing Electric-Bicycle Regulations, in force since 1 May, will be strictly enforced at checkpoints. Global mobility managers with travellers arriving during the Putin visit should build at least 90 minutes of buffer for transfers from Beijing Capital (PEK) or Daxing (PKX) airports into the city and confirm hotel meeting-room bookings, as some five-star properties in the second-ring corridor have been requisitioned for delegation use. For same-day departures, travellers should monitor NOTAMs for short “ground-stop” periods when VIP flights move. Although the advisory is routine, it illustrates how China’s packed diplomatic calendar—Beijing brands 2026 as its “APEC host year”—can ripple into everyday mobility. Companies should keep updated China travel-risk dashboards and ensure travellers have Mandarin-language emergency contacts.
