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. 

(Xinhua News Agency July 24.2008)