Hao Hao ReportThe best China news and blog posts

BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Taxi driver Wang Xiancheng thought his English language level urgently needed improving, as the summer Olympics in his home city of Beijing is just one month away as of Tuesday.

BEIJING — Visitors to China's capital can stroll through "Racist Park," enjoy a plate of "Crap in the Grass" and stop by a Starbuck's franchise for a cup for "Christmas Bland" coffee.

Now the Beijing government is trying to clean up such mistranslations and sloppy editing (including the inversion of 'a' and 'r' in carp on menus) before an expected 500,000 foreigners arrive for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Everything has been prepared, all tickets have been sold, yet Beijing is not ready for the games. The majors issues, air pollution, freedom of speech and journalistic freedom as well as the whole visa thing cast a dark shadow above these Olympics. What will the Olympics be under these circumstances? Doing a review later is easy... therefore I do a preview. What will happen during the Olympics, what will be the outcome?

Beijing expat Jeremiah runs through a few of the things he loves about Beijing. A good list that reminds us that despite what the microscope wielders are reporting about air quality and traffic - the city is still pretty damn cool.

Thirty years ago, on December 18-22, the landmark third plenary session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was held in Beijing, setting a new direction for the country – reform and opening up. Great changes have taken place since then, from household life to the national strength, from the political field to the economic, sports, cultural, and social fields.

Half of all private cars banned every day, an army of volunteers roaming the streets, Olympic flare as far as the eye can see, new subway lines, and security checks everywhere in between. Yup, Beijing is a vastly different place today than it was before July 20. Here's a rundown of the changes which have gone into effect.

One sad thing about life in Beijing is missing American food. My boyfriend is sick of me hearing me tell him how much I miss milkshakes and bread. There is are a number of Western-themed eateries, Dairy Queen, a Sizzler (or two), Pizza Huts and of course ubiquitious McDonalds, in the city. And if you want coffee, there are a surprising number of Starbucks in the city.

TaiTai over at Sinocidal has posted some videos from when his friend's father visited China in 1971. Though in need of a soundtrack (you can just hum one), they give an interesting peak into what The Bund, The Forbidden City and the Beijing Zoo looked like more than 30 years ago.

A vandal has damaged the giant portrait of late Chinese chairman Mao Zedong that hangs over the Forbidden City.

"The picture was on fire on the left-hand side," said a diplomat and a photographer who were driving past in a taxi late on Saturday afternoon.