Decree of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality

No.291

The Beijing Municipal Regulations on the Management of Public Signs in Foreign Languages was reviewed and adopted at the 59th executive meeting of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality on February 12, 2020. It is hereby released and will come into force on July 1, 2020.

Mayor Chen Jining

February 29, 2020

Beijing Municipal Regulations on the Management of Public Signs in Foreign Languages 

Article 1 To regulate the erection and use of public signs in foreign languages, these regulations are formulated in accordance with relevant laws and regulations and in view of the actual situations in Beijing.

Article 2 The term “public places” in the regulations refers to places open and available to non-specific groups.

The regulations apply to public facilities of signboards, notice boards, and electronic screens within the administrative region of Beijing that display in foreign languages such information as names, cautions, warnings, restrictions, prohibitions, directives and instructions, and to the provision of services and management in connection with such signs.

Article 3 People's governments at all levels shall strengthen their leading role in the erection and use of foreign language signs in public places within their respective administrative region, make it part of their efforts to build Beijing into an international exchange center, and provide necessary support accordingly.

The municipal foreign affairs department is responsible for the management of public signs in foreign languages in Beijing, for organizing, coordinating, guiding and supervising the erection and use of these signs. The district government departments responsible for foreign affairs (hereinafter “district foreign affairs departments”) shall, under the leadership of district governments and guidance of the municipal foreign affairs department, perform the duty of managing foreign language signs within its administrative region.

Departments in charge of transportation, culture and tourism, health, gardening, urban management, public security, emergency management, sports, commerce, finance, postal services, market regulation, cultural heritage, communications administration, and urban management shall manage the foreign language signs in public places in accordance with the regulations.

Article 4 Those who erect the public signs should see to it that such signs are translated into foreign languages in the right way. Foreign language signs should be lawful, meet due standards, serve their purposes and the wording should be polite.

Article 5 The names and information displayed in public places shall use standard Chinese characters. Public signs should not be in foreign languages only. Should Chinese and a foreign language appear simultaneously, the sign in both languages shall carry the same meaning.

When standard Chinese characters are used in the following public places to indicate such information as cautions, warnings, restrictions, prohibitions, directives and instructions, the operators or managers of such places shall erect and use foreign language signs.

1. Emergency shelters;

2. Civil airports, train stations, urban rail transit stations;

3. Venues where major international events are held and hotels where their visitors stay;

4. Venues where international sporting events and international exhibitions are held;

5. Communities in which foreigners reside;

6. Cultural and sports venues, tourist sites and other important public venues for cultural and sports events.

The types of information that needs to be displayed in foreign languages and the list of public places where foreign language signs need to be erected and used in accordance with Paragraph 2 of Article 5, shall be determined by the municipal foreign affairs department in conjunction with other government departments before they are released to the public.

Operators and managers of public places not specified in Article 2 may erect and use foreign language signs based on their own needs of communication and service provision.

Article 6 The use of foreign language for public signs shall be correct and consistent with the national and municipal standards in this area, the generally accepted language rules and international norms.

Operators and managers of a public place are encouraged to hire a professional translation agency to translate Chinese signs into foreign languages.

Article 7 The foreign language signs shall not contravene socialist core values. They shall not include any of the following information:

1. Information that endangers the security, dignity, honor or interests of the country;

2. Information that undermines ethnic solidarity, customs and conventions;

3. Information that disturbs order and social stability;

4. Information that advocates obscenity, gambling or violence;

5. Information that is discriminatory, insulting or slanderous, or encroaches upon others’ legal rights and interests;

6. Other contents that violate laws, regulations, public order or good customs.

Article 8 The municipal department responsible for urban management shall work with the municipal foreign affairs department to incorporate the requirements on foreign language signs into the municipal regulations regarding the use of public plaques and signs.

Article 9 The municipal department responsible for market regulation shall work with the municipal foreign affairs department to formulate the local standards for the use of foreign languages for public signs and release them to the public, in view of the need to build Beijing into an international exchange center.

The municipal foreign affairs department shall regularly collect and sort out typical errors in the use of foreign languages for public signs, propose standard translations of frequently used signs, and provide guidelines on erecting and using foreign language signs.

Article 10 The municipal foreign affairs department may form an advisory panel comprised of language experts as needed to provide advice on foreign language signs and on relevant administrative departments' supervision and management work.

Article 11 Volunteer organizations established in accordance with law and dedicated to improving the language environment are encouraged to provide volunteer services regarding foreign language signs.

Individuals with foreign language expertise may join volunteer organizations' programs regarding the correct use of foreign language for public signs, or provide volunteer services independently in accordance with law.

The foreign affairs, civil affairs and other departments concerned shall provide necessary support and guidance for organizations and individuals engaged in volunteer activities regarding foreign language signs.

Article 12 The municipal foreign affairs department shall establish an online information service platform to publish the standards on the use of foreign languages for public signs and standard translations of frequently used Chinese signs and to provide information and query services for the erection and use of such signs.

People may use the platform to lodge complaints, report acts in violation of law, or make suggestions on foreign language signs.

Article 13 The municipal and district foreign affairs departments shall strengthen the routine supervision of the use of foreign language for public signs in their respective administrative region, timely deal with public complaints, reports and suggestions. If an alleged violation of the present regulations is confirmed, the said department shall see to it that corrections are made, and based on the result of corrections, transfer relevant confirmation materials and evidences to the department of law enforcement and urban management which will handle the case in accordance with law. Professional opinions, guidance and advice shall be provided as needed.

Article 14 If, in their routine management work, the transportation, culture and tourism, health, gardening, public security, emergency management, sports, commerce, finance, postal service, cultural heritage, communications administration and other departments find operators and managers of public places in their sector or system violated Paragraph 1 and 2 of Article 5, Paragraph 1 of Article 6, or Article 7, they shall urge the operators and managers to make corrections. Based on the result of corrections, the departments will report the case to the municipal and district foreign affairs departments or the department of law enforcement and urban management which will handle the case in accordance with law.

Article 15 If an entity violates Paragraph 1 of Article 5 by using foreign language signs alone to indicate the names or provide other information, the department of law enforcement and urban management shall see to it that corrections are made. Should the entity refuse to do so, it will be given a warning and urged to make corrections within a specified period of time.

If an entity violates Paragraph 2 of Article 5 by failing to use foreign language signs where it should according to Paragraph 2 of Article 5, the department of law enforcement and urban management shall see to it that corrections are made. Should the entity refuse to do so, it will be given a warning, urged to make corrections within a specified period of time, and at the same time is subject to a fine in the range of RMB2,000–5,000.

Article 16 If an entity violates Paragraph 1 of Article 6 by using non-standard translations of public signs, the department of law enforcement and urban management shall see to it that corrections are made according to the opinions given by the municipal and district foreign affairs departments. Should the entity refuses to do so, it will be urged to make corrections within a specified period of time, and at the same time is subject to a fine in the range of RMB2,000–5,000.

Article 17 If an entity uses foreign language signs the contents of which are in violation of Article 7, the department of law enforcement and urban management shall urge it to make corrections within a specified period of time according to the opinions given by the municipal and district foreign affairs departments, with a fine in the range of RMB5,000–10,000. Should the circumstances or consequences be serious, a fine in the range of RMB10,000–30,000 shall be imposed. Should the circumstances constitute a violation of public security regulations, the public security organ shall impose administrative penalty in accordance with law. Should the case constitute a crime, criminal liabilities shall be pursued in accordance with law.

Article 18 If a civil servant fails to perform, or incorrectly perform his/her duties under the regulations and cause serious or bad consequences, the person directly in charge and other personnel directly responsible for the work shall be held to account by the competent authorities in accordance with law.

Article 19 The erection and use of foreign language for advertisements and place name signs shall be administered by relevant administrative department in accordance with national regulations on advertising and place names.

Article 20 The regulations shall enter into force on July 1, 2020.