Beijing Hotel, Focal Point of Violence, Closes Its Doors

The Beijing Hotel, the oldest and largest in the capital and a focal point of this week’s Chinese army assault on pro-democracy demonstrators, closed today until further notice.

Foreigners who tried to enter were told that it was empty, accepting no guests and that its restaurants and shops were closed. It ran out of food two days ago.

Situated on the Avenue of Eternal Peace about 400 yards east of Tian An Men Square, the hotel provided a grandstand view of tanks and troops as they moved to and from the square and city center.

Foreign journalists took over some of its 1,000 rooms when tourists beat a hasty retreat as the brutal attack began Saturday night. But by Wednesday, security men had covered the windows of rooms occupied by journalists to stop them from watching military activity.