The Agent in Economy
Last night, twenty minutes before Thai Airways Flight 664 from Bangkok to Shanghai Pudong was scheduled to land, a pleasant female voice came over the intercom to remind passengers that:
“It is illegal to take photos over China, or in Chinese airports.”
This was the first international flight that I’ve taken into China since mid-March, so perhaps this warning is nothing new. Or, perhaps, for reasons unknown, it’s a warning only made to Thai Air passengers. For sure, it’s not something that I heard on my last domestic flight (Shanghai <> Guangzhou) in mid-May.
A friend with vast China experience informs me that he last heard this warning in 1987. Could be. Whatever the case, count this as perhaps one more instance of a long-dormant or ignored Chinese law or rule that – in the run-up to the Olympics – is suddenly given new life.
And, like other such rules (see: getting visas, F, L, Z), the resurrection of this one will serve only to alienate – or, at best, put off – first-time visitors to China expecting a grand Olympic welcome. Consider, for example, the first time tourist flying into Beijing Capitol, camera pointed out the window to snap an image of the stunning new Terminal Two Three … only to be told that such photos are illegal.
Welcome to Beijing!
Of course, the resurrection of this rule is all the more absurd in light of the fact that Google Maps has long made available overhead images of what the locals like to call “sensitive” sites (ie, Zhongnanhai).
[I'm going to re-open comments for this post, in hope that somebody might confirm whether or not Thai Air is going it alone on this announcement].
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Wouldn’t a digital camera technically count as one of the electronic devices that you’d need to shut off before landing, anyway?
Anyway, stupid that they’re doing this. Beijing 2008 is becoming the No Fun Olympics.
By the way – why did you shut off comments last week???
Comment by Ferdy — June 8, 2008 @ 7:26 pm
I didn’t hear this announcement when I flew in from Chicago in early May, but hey, things change fast in China.
Comment by Marjorie — June 8, 2008 @ 7:49 pm
It’s been ages since I heard this announcement and what makes it so silly, besides the great Google maps, is the fact that you can snap away to your heart’s content on your flight *departing* from Beijing…
Comment by David — June 8, 2008 @ 9:59 pm
“you can snap away to your heart’s content on your flight *departing* from Beijing…”
Hmm.. This can be easily fixed by ensuring that you can never leave China…
Comment by Bill — June 8, 2008 @ 10:08 pm
I have never heard this rule in my 7 months in China. My last flight into China was in April, and I have flown domestically on several more recent occasions. The airport photography ban isn’t so unusual–I know that American train stations and other transportation hubs are touchy about photographs these days.
Comment by William — June 8, 2008 @ 11:54 pm
“It is illegal to take photos over China, or in Chinese airports.”
Have you confirmed if there is really such a rule in effect in China? That sound extremely silly to me. Maybe not so silly 3 decades ago. but now? definitely. And also, I am wondering: have you ever taken a photo in China? Where does those photos on this blog come from? Did you encounter any problems while taking these photos? Have you seen any cameras on the street? You didn’t mention any of these. Maybe I missed your point. But banning camera seems to me to be absolutely silly, only to be fantasized by some ill mind.
Comment by demin — June 9, 2008 @ 4:49 am
Dermin, you MORON the post says OVER China, not IN China. A photo from an airplane above China. Read the whole post next time.
Comment by Cally38 — June 9, 2008 @ 7:59 am
Ferdy asks why I shut off comments last week. Comments six and seven provide a partial answer.
Comment by Adam — June 9, 2008 @ 10:18 am
Sad about the civility and comments, as I have always loved your blog and comments
I have to believe this is a Thai Airways dusting off some old rule thing. I flew in from US on United late May and no comments and took some really cool northern siberian tundra pics. I have heard something about picture taking in the new Terminal 3 in BJ. Man it has been a while since I heard that one, ditto on the No Fun Olympics though…. I can’t wait till the summer is over.
Comment by Terry — June 9, 2008 @ 10:57 am
Terry–so glad that Russia doesn’t enforce this kind of rule. We love our Siberian tundra pics, too.
Comment by ambrose — June 9, 2008 @ 3:38 pm
You know, a lot more people will be watching the Olympics on TV than in person. As long as it looks good there, I think China would prefer fewer attendees and more shining moments on international tv.
Comment by ambrose — June 9, 2008 @ 3:47 pm
ambrose: It’s possible, but then again… AP: TV execs clashing with Chinese over Olympics coverage.
Comment by Micah Sittig — June 10, 2008 @ 9:16 am
Back in the day, at most of China’s airports you had to walk (or be bussed) out on the tarmac to board most flights. All the Chinese would pose for a picture with the plane in the background. I was in Lijiang in February and saw some passengers try to do this, but they were shut down by the security guards.
US airports now disallow photographs in many areas.
Comment by vinceo — June 10, 2008 @ 3:01 pm
Correction—As long as it looks good on the CCTV feed, which I am sure will be made available to those media outlets having difficulty setting up their own operations…..
Comment by ambrose — June 10, 2008 @ 8:27 pm