Private clubs in Beijing parks ordered to shut down  

北京整治会所歪风 市属公园内私人会所一律关停

北京晨报记者昨日获悉，市纪委牵头园林绿化、文物、公园管理等单位正全力推进“会所中的歪风”专项整治工作。根据初步摸排，在本市城市公园内共有高档餐饮及企业租用经营场所24家。市政府要求，市属公园内的私人会所和高档娱乐场所一律关停。 [查看全文]

(ECNS) -- Upscale private clubs and restaurants located in Beijing parks have been ordered to suspend operations following a campaign to crack down on extravagance in the capital, the Beijing Morning Post said on Wednesday.

The campaign was launched by the Beijing Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission after several high-end clubs and restaurants in public parks were exposed as providing services only for senior officials, business tycoons and celebrities.

Twenty-four clubs have been exposed in the campaign, and the hunt is still on for restaurants and clubs built with public resources that offer expensive food and services to elite members.

Clubs that have been closed include Yi Shi Liu Restaurant and Shang Lin Yuan Restaurant in Beihai Park, while others like Wen Yue Lou Restaurant in the Purple Bamboo Park have been ordered to lower prices.

Built illicitly with public resources, many of these clubs are located in parks and historic buildings, and their per capita consumption is at least 400 yuan (66 US dollars), which violates rules set by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD).

The municipal discipline inspection commission has also issued a notice ordering CPC members and officials to sign a letter of assurance that they won't frequent private clubs or accept membership cards from them.