It is a steamy morning at Beijing's imperial Summer Palace, a sprawling complex of ancient royal residences and gardens. Already visitors are teeming through its archways and paddling boats on its misty lake.
Xie Jing Lian, a retired calligrapher, stoops over a flagstone walk as he draws Chinese characters with a large wet brush. In elegant brushstrokes, he has written 'The Olympics have arrived' on the flagstones.
Lian says it is hard to get tickets to Olympic events and there are long lines but the games are good for China.
He says the games will help the Chinese economy and will also strengthen relations with other countries. Moreover, he says they will stimulate Chinese to work harder and help their country.
Wang Tian Xiu is a smartly dressed lady living in London who has come for the games. She says the authorities in preparing for the games made many improvements, such as new parks and public facilities. And she says the city is much cleaner than before. She acknowledges that a lot of money has been spent but says it is worth it.
"It's a good time for Chinese people to show off to the international world and just to show the people our country has grown big. We have the power to hold the event. We have the power to stand in the international industry. And it's so perfect. I'm very proud to be a Chinese," said Xiu.
In the heart of Beijing, Chu Xia has brought her daughter, Li zi yan, a ruddy-cheeked seven-year-old, to visit the imperial palace complex called the Forbidden City.
She says her daughter was born the year that China won the bid to host the Olympics. She promised then to bring her to the games and now, she says, my dream has come true.
