In Transition: China Reconstructs Beijing in Time for Olympics

Beijing is under construction. The city skyline is filled with construction cranes, and a drive down many streets features as many half-built buildings as finished ones. Visits to museums are commonly interrupted by renovations, while the ancient Forbidden City and Summer Palace - once the winter and summer homes of the emperor and his family - are being repainted despite remaining open. Construction is not the only constant reminder of the approaching 2008 Olympic Games. A large clock counts down to the opening ceremonies in Tiananmen Square, the site of the infamous 1989 student demonstration. Billboards and ads appear constantly, advertising both companies supporting the Olympics and the Olympic Games themselves.