Right now, there’s bound to be even more going around as the local authorities have set measures in place to help clear up the sky, some of which include a halt on all construction in the city and a reduction in traffic.

This is to help improve the air quality for the duration of the Olympic Games. According to the BBC, it seems to be working as the Olympic stadium is a lot more visible now than it was when I visited the city in June.

The stadium's elliptical shape resembles a bird’s nest and is the brainchild of Jacques Hertzog and Pierre de Meuron. It has an honorary place on the ceremonial axis of Beijing which extends from the Forbidden City and is part of the ancient city’s layout.

At the moment, Beijing and the Olympics go together like chopsticks, but there are more than a few other lifetime experiences on offer in the city.

"Hey lady, cheap price"

First up — the shopping! Sure, Chinese produce are on offer all over the world, but the best prices on Chinese silk and pearls are to be found in, well, China. There are two popular markets in Beijing; suitably named the Silk Market and the Pearl Market. Bargain hard to make sure you have many pretty things to enjoy for years to come.

These markets also sell truck loads of counterfeit products and it's up to you to decide whether you want to support that sort of trade.

What a photogenic wall…

Tourist-wise it is possible to visit different sections of the Great Wall of China from Beijing. It will take more or less an hour to get to Mutianyu or Badaling from the central areas of the city. Badaling is more popular and busier so if you want the grand structure to yourself, choose Mutianyu and go early.

Remember to pack your walking shoes, your sunscreen as well as your camera and set aside enough time for a hike in the fresh mountain air and to take photographs.

Entering the Forbidden City

Back in Beijing, you’ll need at least half a day to visit the Forbidden City. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, this is the largest collection of preserved wooden structures in the world. 720 000m² of halls, squares and almost nine thousand rooms makes it the world’s largest surviving palace complex. It was built during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and used as the imperial palace.

The palace is called the 'Forbidden City' because no one could enter or leave without the Emperor’s permission, which meant that many people lived out their whole lives within these palace walls. By the time you’ve walked through the whole complex, your feet will be grateful for an era in which you can leave.

Where one alone confronted tanks

From one huge structure to the next, Tiananmen Square is the world’s largest public square and a historical site worth seeing. There is no parking around the square so it’s quite a walk to get there, even with a taxi — in this case especially, a bicycle may be your best bet. It's a worthwhile excursion even though it gets crowded and the smog fades out Chairman Mao's mausoleum and the many museums around the square.

A place of myth and beauty

The Summer Palace, in turn, is a relaxing and invigorating outing. Pack your own picnic lunch to enjoy with the scenery or simply buy some Chinese food from the vendors.

Of all the structures here, the most cherished is the Long Corridor, an open air walkway with a roof to keep out the summer drizzle. It is the largest painted corridor in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. There are over 8000 paintings on the corridor, which is 728 metres long. Some of these cover history, myths and legends while others are delicate or whimsical depictions of birds, flowers and pristine landscapes from a bygone era.

The big, fat panda

The currently popular panda can be found in the Beijing Zoo. It is possible to buy an entry ticket only to see the pandas, but since it takes a good 40 minutes to walk to the panda den, you may want to stay and have a look at all the other animals here.

The new panda den built especially for the Olympics looks like a pretty decent home. Some of the pandas have also been chosen as mascots for the upcoming Olympics — could we possibly hope for a bit of kung-fu?

If you’re there to experience this vast city during the Games, enjoy the feeling. Hopefully the dust will settle so that you, the athletes and the locals will share in the fresh air, whether it’s on the running tracks or the back of a bicycle.

Read more about Lize's travels at www.parisandpomegranates.blogspot.com