Shanghai's two major airports are doubling security efforts from tomorrow - quite literally.

Luggage and bags of both visitors and passengers will be checked at entrances to the terminal buildings, and travelers will still have to undergo normal check-in security procedures.

The focus is on safety as the Beijing Olympic Games loom and passengers have been urged to arrive as early as possible.

Extra police officers, security workers and airport staff will be on duty to handle the unprecedented procedure.

The new practice becomes effective on the same day at airports in 18 cities and regions around China, including Beijing.

The Shanghai Airport Authority said yesterday the checks would focus on the detection of any explosive, flammable, biochemical or radioactive material.

All gates at terminal buildings at the Pudong and Hongqiao international airports will be rearranged to facilitate the initiative.

Security workers will use chemically impregnated paper to rub on luggage. The paper will then be scanned by state-of-the-art machines that will produce a result in seconds. The machines sound a siren on suspect luggage, which will be taken away for detailed examination.

"Passengers should understand that they must go through check-in procedures just as usual," said Wang Jijie, spokesman and deputy manager of the Hongqiao airport.

Wang said there would still be the second security check before passengers board flights just as usual.

Police urged car, bus and taxi drivers to leave the gate areas as soon as dropping off or picking up passengers and to travel more slowly.

The city airport authority said the new procedures would last for up to two months but the final call on when they ended was up to national aviation authorities.

Meanwhile, the Shanghai Railway Administration has begun to prepare for the expected increase in passengers for the Olympics.

It has opened booths for passengers holding tickets for the Games or introductory letters related to the Olympics to book tickets at Shanghai Railway Station.

Spectators, volunteers and cheer squads will be able to check in through special aisles and rest in waiting rooms specially opened for the Games period.

They can also check in their luggage at new booths.

Olympic documentaries will be played on a screen in the station waiting hall and on trains to Beijing.

The latest Games information will be also broadcast during the journey.

There will be bilingual services at desks in the ticket hall and waiting areas.

Five special hotlines have been set up to book tickets to Beijing or arrange luggage check-ins. They are 5123-5222, 5124-5499, 5123-4682, 5123-4662 and 5124-5120.