Airbnb, the world’s biggest room-sharing platform, has cancelled its Beijing city centre bookings for the rest of October as authorities tighten their grip on the city ahead of next week’s Communist party congress.
The five-yearly political gathering, which begins on October 18, will mark the start of a second five-year term for Chinese President Xi Jinping, who will reveal a new leadership team. Heightened security means disruption to business in the capital as shops and roads are closed.
Without explanation, Airbnb said listings within the capital’s sixth ring road would not be available until the start of November. That means all bookings have been cancelled within a 20km radius of Tiananmen Square, the area where the party congress will be held.