Eyes in the sky

China is in the middle of a once-in-a-decade political transition. The country's new leaders will be elected during the 18th Party Congress, and this week President Hu Jintao will begin to relinquish power to his heir, Vice President Xi Jinping.

The week long meeting has drawn more than 2,000 Communist Party delegates to Beijing from across the vast country, and ensuring social stability is a top priority for officials. Beijing has taken a series of unusual measures to prevent protests. The list of restrictions effects all aspects of life in China's capital, which has a population of about 20 million.

At left, workers check security cameras on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, Nov. 12, 2012.

Credit: AP