Beijing promises ample Halal food outlets during Olympics

Beijing promises ample Muslim food outlets during Olympics
  
 BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhua) — Muslim visitors to Beijing will find halal
food outlets within easy reach anywhere, promised a city legislator in charge of
supervising food hygiene law enforcement.

    Beijing had 2,053 halal food outlets, including restaurants and food shops,
said Wu Shixiong, deputy director of the municipal people’s congress, in a
report to the legislature’s standing committee on Wednesday.

    He said the city government had set side 32 million yuan (4.7 million U.S.
dollars) to open halal food outlets in transport hubs, such as the Capital
Airport and the Beijing West Railway Station, and upgrade food processing
facilities in major Muslim catering businesses.

    The supply of lamb and beef to all halal food outlets could be traced
through the supply chain to origin, said Wu.

    Up to 10,000 Muslim athletes, coaches, officials and tourists from around
the world are expected to visit Beijing’s largest Muslim neighborhood of Niujie
Street during the Games.

    Niujie, with about 12,000 Muslims, dates back more than 1,000 years. The
Niujie Mosque has been standing since 996AD.

    The municipal government has selected 12 of the city’s 70 mosques as main
reception venues for Muslims, equipping them with Arabic signs and barrier-free
facilities. Translators will work at the mosques during the Games.