Cities prepare for solar eclipse

Authorities from Chongqing to the Yangtze River Delta have drafted plans to deal with Wednesday’s solar eclipse, the South China Morning Post reported. Many cities will operate in a "nighttime model". Street lights will be turned on and airports will turn on runway lights to ensure that transportation can continue during the period of total darkness that can last up to six minutes. Officials in Chongqing have also encouraged citizens not to send text messages or make phone calls so as not to jam the city’s telecommunications system. Anji city in Zhejiang province, which is said to be the best place to watch the eclipse, will expand telecommunications services to prevent bottlenecks. Officials in Hangzhou said they would also have city management teams controlling crowds at the city’s tourist sites during the eclipse.