Watching China

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There is little doubt at ordinary Beijingers' enthusiasm for next month's Olympic Games. But a whole series of problems that have proven tough to fix could give visitors an Olympic-sized headache, and may put many off coming altogether.

A student from the Tagou martial arts school practises in front of the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, at the Olympic Green in Beijing.

There is little doubt at ordinary Beijingers' enthusiasm for next month's Olympic Games. But a whole series of problems that have proven tough to fix could give visitors an Olympic-sized headache, and may put many off coming altogether.

and reception work." A much vaunted scheme to provide bilingual English-Chinese menus during the Games is only going to be available in certain hotels, 1,000 or so restaurants and at some tourist hot spots, Xiong said, so many eateries could effectively be off limits.

and reception work." A much vaunted scheme to provide bilingual English-Chinese menus during the Games is only going to be available in certain hotels, 1,000 or so restaurants and at some tourist hot spots, Xiong said, so many eateries could effectively be off limits.

and reception work." A much vaunted scheme to provide bilingual English-Chinese menus during the Games is only going to be available in certain hotels, 1,000 or so restaurants and at some tourist hot spots, Xiong said, so many eateries could effectively be off limits.

and reception work." A much vaunted scheme to provide bilingual English-Chinese menus during the Games is only going to be available in certain hotels, 1,000 or so restaurants and at some tourist hot spots, Xiong said, so many eateries could effectively be off limits.

By Ben Blanchard

By Ben Blanchard

By Ben Blanchard

There is little doubt at ordinary Beijingers' enthusiasm for next month's Olympic Games.

The Olympic opening ceremony is in rehearsal. But until it is unveiled in the evening of August 8, the extravaganza will remain a State secret, known to only those involved.

When 500,000 foreign visitors descend on Beijing during the Olympics, they will experience a kaleidoscope of contrasts -- some maddening, others glorious -- that disorient and confuse.

A look inside the Duan family's culinary customs.

JOURNEY: Chinese passengers board an Air China charter flight to Taiwan at Beijing airport. (Photo courtesy: AFP)