New Beijing eclipses old

Ancient ways of life are left behind

Beijing 2008

Two Weeks To Go

Murray is a Foreign Service officer in the State Department economic section. On weekends, he takes his three children on field trips into the city to explore Chinese culture. It has become tougher. Traditional hutongs in Houhai now face a strip of bars and clubs, their neon signs advertising fun from a far-away world. Sex and the City, one is called.

Not far away, last week's favorite restaurant is this week's vacant building.

"The Olympics are almost a metaphor," Murray says, "for what Beijing and what China is trying to do, in terms of its own economic rising, trying to become more economically powerful on the world stage. I think most people would agree the Olympics are China's coming-out party and Beijing's coming-out party."

Lin, the T. Rowe Price banker, can appreciate the changes and upgrades. Still, he can't help but notice what has been lost.

"It's heartbreaking for me to see that the Beijing that I once knew is no longer there," he says.

"Is it still home?" he is asked.

"My parents are still there, so in that regard, I still have that attachment to it," Lin says. "But in terms of the buildings, the area, the way it looks and feels, no, I don't have that. I have my memories, but it is a different city now."

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ONLINE

See a video of Beijing being readied for the Olympics at

baltimoresun.com/beijing