By Wang Zhuoqiong (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-02-05 07:43

Less littering, spitting and queue jumping is making the capital a more pleasant place to live, research has revealed.

A report by the Renmin University of China, commissioned by the capital ethic development committee, was released on Friday.

Zhang Huiguang, director of the committee - a Beijing government etiquette group tasked with helping prepare the city for the Olympics - said: "The behavior of Beijingers in public places is definitely improving.

"This trend is a result of patriotism and widespread participation in preparing for the Olympic Games."

Last year, the city's "civilization index", which provides a gauge of the behavior of Beijing residents was 73.38 (out of 100), up 4.32 points on 2006 and 8.17 on 2005, according to Sha Lianxiang, a professor at Renmin University and head of the research team.

Between 2005 and last year, the survey monitored 320 public places, and interviewed 10,000 locals and 1,000 foreign residents. Of the people observed at public locations, the number of litterers fell from 5.3 percent in 2006 to 2.8 percent last year, while spitting cases fell from 4.9 percent to 2.5 percent. Instances of not queuing at bus stops also fell from 15 to 5 percent.

One of the reasons credited for the changes in attitudes was the use of the stick, as well as the carrot.

Last year, the city introduced fines of up to 50 yuan ($7) for anyone caught spitting in the capital.

Also, "Queuing Day", which takes place on the 11th of each month, a time when all city residents are encouraged to stand in line rather than push in, has been introduced.

As a result, the survey indicated, more residents have been giving up their seats on public transport to the elderly or disabled and there are now far more queues than there are fights to get on buses.

Li Wei, 25, who works in marketing and was brought up in the city, said she had noticed the change in people's behavior.

"Many of my friends no longer litter and they are also more aware of the need to separate garbage from things that can be recycled.

"Bus conductors are also more polite and there is less yelling," she said.

"We are Olympic hosts and should give visitors from home and abroad a good impression."

Adrien Ryan, an artist from Canada, said less littering and spitting was good but he didn't want to see the government eliminate all of Beijing's old habits.

"Part of Beijing's charm is that its people can be blunt, forward and expressive."