The number of Americans studying in China increased by 25 percent [from last year] … People used to go to China to study the history and language, and many still do, but with China looming so large in all our futures, there’s been a real shift, and more students go for an understanding of what’s happening economically and politically.

US cyclists, erring on the side of looking stupid, made their grand debut at the Beijing airport wearing masks designed to protect them from Beijing's poor air quality. A couple of the riders were said to have even worn the masks on the flight - because Beijing's pollution is also present in a climate controlled environment 40,000 feet above the Pacific.