Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

The Fuwa (Chinese pinyin: Fúwá; literally "Good-fortune Children") are the mascots of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. They were announced by the National Society of Chinese Classic Literature Studies on November 11, 2005 at an event marking the 1000th day before the opening of the games.

Fuwa consists of five members: Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying, and Nini. The five mascots incorporate fish, giant panda, fire, Tibetan antelope, and swallow designs respectively, and each also represents one of the five Olympic Rings. When the five names are put together, they form a pun on the phrase "Beijing huanying ni" which means "Beijing welcomes you".

For more information about the Olympic mascots, click here.

Beijing, a city in northern China, is the capital of the People's Republic of China (PRC). It was formerly known in English as Peking or Peiking; Beijing literally means "Northern capital".

Beijing is China's second largest city in terms of population, after Shanghai. It is a major transportation hub, with dozens of railways, roads and expressways entering and leaving it in all directions. It is also the focal point of many international flights to China. Beijing is recognized as the political, educational, and cultural center of the People's Republic of China, while Shanghai and Hong Kong predominate in economic fields.

The city's climate is harsh, characterized by hot, humid summers due to the East Asian monsoon, and cold, windy, dry winters that reflect the influence of the vast Siberian anticyclone. Average temperatures in January are at around -7 to -4 °C, while average temperatures in July are at 25 to 26 °C. Annual precipitation is over 600 mm, with 75% of that in summer.

Beijing also suffers from heavy pollution and poor air quality from industry and traffic. Dust from erosion of deserts in northern and northwestern China result in seasonal dust storms that plague the city. In the first four months of 2006 alone, there were no fewer than eight such storms. Efforts have been made of late to clean up Beijing in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Source: Wikipedia

The Chinese government intends to invest in the renovation and construction of thirty-six gymnasiums and stadiums as well as fifty-nine training centers.

Its largest architectural pieces will be the Beijing National Stadium, National Gymnasium, Olympic Aquatic Park, Convention Center, Olympic Village, and Wukesong Cultural and Sports Center. US $2.1 billion (RMB¥17.4 billion) in corporate bids and tenders are expected to fund almost 85 percent of the construction budget for the six main venues. Investments are expected from corporations seeking ownership rights after the 2008 Summer Olympics. Some venues will be owned and governed by the State General Administration of Sports, which will use them after the Olympics as facilities for all future national sports teams and events.

Beijing National Stadium
The centerpiece of the 2008 Summer Olympics is the construction of the Beijing National Stadium, which began on December 24, 2003. Government officials engaged architects worldwide in a design competition. A Swiss firm, Herzog & de Meuron Architekten AG, collaborated with China Architecture Design & Research Group to win the competition.

The National Stadium will feature lattice-like concrete skeleton forming the stadium bowl, which will seat 80,000 people. Architects originally described the overall design as resembling a bird's nest with an immense ocular - an opening with retractable roof over the stadium. However, in 2004 the roof part of the design was abandoned for cost and safety reasons. The Beijing National Stadium will be the site of the Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony as well as track and field events and soccer finals.

The complex called Olympic Green is where approximately 50% of the events will be held and is located at the northern-central Beijing. Olympic Green will contain a massive park, competition venues, the Olympic Village, the Main Press Center, and the International Broadcasting Center. There will be several subway stations to connect Olympic Green and the downtown area. Tourists can also choose to take buses, taxis or to drive to Olympic Green. Having lived in Beijing, I can tell you the public transportation there is fabulous, unlike Los Angeles.

There will be 31 total venues used in Beijing during the 2008 Games. Most of them have already been completed, though some are still under construction. An additional five cities (Hong Kong, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai and Tianjin) will also co-operate with Beijing to run the Equestrian, Sailing and the Football Preliminaries.

National Stadium, nicknamed the "Bird's Nest" because of its unique design, is where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held. National Stadium is located at Olympic Green and covers an area of 258,000 square meters (about 63.8 acres). Designed by the famous Swiss architect firm Herzog & DeMeuron and the China Architecture Design Institute, the construction started in December 2003 and will have a maximum capacity of 100,000 upon completion. This grand stadium will also host track & field and soccer during the Games. In the future, the Stadium will be the stage for both national and international sporting events, as well as cultural and entertainment activities after the Olympics. The glittering National Aquatics Center, nicknamed 'H2O3', is another state-of-the-art complex at the Olympic Green. It covers an area of more than 65,000 square meters (about 16.1 acres) and have a capacity of 17,000 during the swimming, diving, water polo, and synchronized swimming events. The center has been donated by many Chinese and Chinese associations from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and the rest of the world.

For more information on the Olympic venues, click here.

This map package for Tube 2 consists of a fully scrollable detailed map of the Beijing Metro.

Plan journeys on this system, list details of the quickest routes and see a superb animated display of your journey tracking around the system map.

This comprehensive map of Beijing's Metro system also incorporates several lines which are under construction. These lines are due for completion in 2008 in time for the 2008 Olympics.

Requirements:
· Palm OS V3.5 & above.
· 600k Memory.

GO TO THE DOWNLOAD PAGE

I had the opportunity to visit Beijing two years ago. While there are many notable attractions, the following are just a few "must see" highlights for any tourist:

The Forbidden City - Also known as the Forbidden Palace, one could easily spend an entire day wandering around. This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.

Tianamen Square - Located just outside the Forbidden Palace, this large square is best known outside China for the Tianamen Square Protests in 1989.

Summer Palace - This destination was the summer resort for the Empress Dowager Cixi.

Temple of Heaven - This temple was built for imperial ceremonies; it is the grandest of all temples in Beijing.

Badaling - This is the most visited section of the Great Wall, located approximately 50 miles northwest of Beijing.

Q: When are the 2008 Beijing Olympics?
A: The 2008 Beijing Olympics will run from August 6, 2008 to August 24, 2008. The opening ceremonies are held on August 8, 2008 and the closing ceremonies will be held on August 24, 2006. August 6th and 7th are for preliminary soccer matches in case you are wondering. You can check out the full schedule to the 2008 Beijing Olympics at the official schedule page.

Q: How about communications in Beijing? Can I use my mobile phone Beijing, and what about the internet?
A: In China, GSM network only have two frequencies, 900HZ and 1800HZ so if your mobile phone must be tri-band to use it in China. CDMA is not very popular in China, so it is best to ask the sale agent for details before coming to China. Internet cafes can be found everywhere in Beijing with most of them using broadband connections.

Q: Can Chinese people speak English or are there English-speaking guides/volunteers available during the Olympic Games?
A: Most of the students have learned English since junior high school. They will be more than willing to help you if you have any problems. What's more, Beijing citizens are learning English. English speaking guides and volunteers are also available to provide better service to our international visitors.

Q: Is there western food available in Beijing as Chinese cuisine is not to my taste?
A: As a modernized capital city, there are many kinds of restaurants in Beijing. Most of the hotels offer both Chinese and Western food. Restaurants offering food of American, Brazilian, French, German, Indian, Japanese, Italian, etc. can be found everywhere in Beijing. You can check details about dining in Beijing.

Q: The Beijing Olympics is in August, what will the weather condition be at that time?
A: Though August is not the hottest month of the year, you should pay attention to the strong ultraviolet radiation. The average daily maximum temperature in August is 29 degrees C (84 degrees F) so it is advisable to bring sunglasses, sun block, and light clothes to remain comfortable in the hot summer weather. It will be very humid as well.

While in Beijing, you'll find it easier to get around if you speak a little Chinese, especially if you plan to also see areas not frequented by tourists.

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