Aerial Tour of Beijing

What do the Olympic venues really look like?  Has Beijing cleaned up the city before the Olympics?  It has according to this video, which features many beauty shots of Beijing.

Reports of smog, which many locals have come to accept as fog or a permanent mist from the mountains, have been rampant.  Since last week only half of the usual number of cars has been on the road, but those dramatic measures still haven't effectively combated the heavy air pollution.

Regardless, Beijing's massive infrastructure improvements and Olympic venues are truly remarkable, and it's nice to see them without additional interference of a thick blanket of smog, or mist from the mountains, if you prefer.  The shots of the Forbidden City and Great Wall towards the end of the video are equally impressive.

Of course, the Beijing beauty marks will look substantially different in two weeks when they're swarming with a sea of athletes, and Olympic enthusiasts.  Stay tuned for more. . .