Yesterday the city was a mass of activity, with thousands of staff and volunteers undertaking final preparations.
Gardeners were tidying the flower beds around key locations, workmen could be seen putting finishes touches to new structures, tables of volunteers could be found at subway stations to assist overseas visitors, and security was visibly strong.
After walking miles and getting a bit lost on my first day, yesterday I decided to try out the subway.
It was not easy to find, but my sign language skills have improved a lot in the last 24 hours and I managed to get some rough directions from one of the receptionists.
I did quiet well, as not only did I get directions to the subway, I also managed to buy a scan card reader for my computer and get the hotel cleaner to show me how to get the shower in my room to work properly. Trying to buy the scan card reader, which would enable me to send some pictures home, was probably the toughest task.
After finding myself in a supermarket/department store, I went in search of electrical goods. The first ones I came to were hairdryers.
There wasn’t one in my hotel room so I thought I would just look at how much they cost.
However, before I even had chance to see the price two shop assistants pounced, eager to help me. They picked up the cheapest and smallest one for me – I can’t think how they knew I would be interested in a travel one – and started nodding ‘yes’ and handing it to me.
It was only about £4 so I agreed, but they wanted to take me to the cash till straight away, without what I had come in for. Eventually, I persuaded them I wanted the camera section, which they led me to.
Yet, trying to explain that I wanted a scan reader with a USB socket was not the easiest task. We were both about to give up, when there was breakthrough and I managed to get what I wanted – and a hairdryer too.
The subway was easy to understand. The authorities have made a big effort to make sure all non-Chinese speaking visitors can follow the system.
Not only are volunteer staff on hand to help you, but the self-service ticket machines can be read in a variety of languages.
Also on the tubes, red, green and amber lights mark the stations. Red means the station has already gone, green signals which ones are coming up, while the next station flashes amber.
I thought I would check out Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City before it got too busy.
The Forbidden City was also forbidden for me, as it was closing time when I arrived, but I was able to enjoy the rest of the area.
Olympic fever was everywhere around Tian’anmen Square. Athletes and journalists could be seen wandering around as well as loads of native Chinese, who seemed to be really enjoying the build-up to the Games.
Everyone was keen to take photographs of the clock in the square that has been counting down to the start of the Olympics for years.
The strangest experience of my day came near the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
I was stood there taking a photograph when a Chinese lady came up to me pointing to her camera and then at her husband and young daughter.
I thought she wanted me to take their picture, so I smiled and nodded and walked towards them.
However, when I got there she pointed at me to stand with her daughter and husband.
I tried to explain that I thought she wanted me to take the picture and that I was not anyone famous, but she kept pointing so I stood for a picture (what could I do?). I can only think she thought I was a competitor.
The people in Beijing really do seem to have caught the Olympic bug. Everyone seems excited and everyone is so keen to help their overseas visitors.
I just wish I spoke Chinese.
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