Remember the Beijing Olympics, August 2008? It was China's coming-out party, with astounding architecture and a real effort to accomodate a world of visitors. A trip out to Olympic Park today is like looking up an old girlfriend --- she doesn't look so good anymore. The two
biggies were the Water Cube Aquatic Centre and The Bird's Nest Stadium. They're still here along with luxury condos, broad avenues, impromptu parks, and all the other Games venues. But the place is overrun with kite-sellers, corn-cookers, and map sellers in 30 languages. Every building has a separate admission charge to see what's going on inside --- nothing!! For me, the biggest
disappointment was that the showpiece subway to the site is shut down. You have to take a bus!
Oh, and the constant smog has tarnished the Cube and made the Bird's Nest soupy.
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