Beijing Tries to Breath Easy

Filed in archive Travel News on August 3, 2007

Aside from being one of the best sources for information and opinion concerning The Middle Kingdom, Time's China Blog is one of the most well-written sites online. The list of contributors reads like some sort of journalistic all-star roster.

I recently came across a post on the China Blog about the relationship between China's speedy development and air quality. With the Olympics just a year away, there are concerns about air quality:

The smog won't just be a nuisance for Western tourists during the Olympics-it could be dangerous to the 10,000+ athletes, or at least muck up the chances for some world records. "I wouldn't expect a world record in the marathon in Beijing," a doctor with the British Olympic Committee told German magazine Spiegel.

Apparently, Chinese authorities are planning to ban several million vehicles from travel in and around Beijing during The Games. As I said in a previous post, it would almost be more interesting to visit Beijing now. The behind the scenes look at pre-Olympic Beijing is bound to be the polar opposite of the plastic and staged version China presents to the world next year. Or, you could just keep up with Beijing through sites like The China Blog and, of course, my coverage of China here on Hidden Travel Gems.