Nine-year-old earthquake survivor Lin Hao (left) walked with Yao Ming (China’s national flag-bearer) in the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the Bird’s Nest.  Some people noticed that the flag that Lin Hao was holding was placed upside down.  It was believed that there was mistake back at the manufacture line, and this had nothing to do with earthquake.  In Chinese culture, the word 福 (Fu, means luck) often written upside down as this indicates that luck is coming.

via: est’s blog

Lu Zhiyuan, a 13-year-old boy from Zhejiang, has been stationing at Beijing airport for six days asking for athletes’ autographs.  Whenever he sees athletes coming out, he’ll use his amateur English requesting for their autograph on his notebook.  The boy’s father is responsible for taking their photos.  He has already had more than 300 athletes’ signature, these including Lu Jianlian, Nadal, etc.  Lu Zhiyuan said he will put this autograph notebook under his pillow everyday and keep it well.

Source: 163

Source: Reuters

Recently a version of Olympic Beijing National Stadium (a.k.a. Bird’s Nest) is circulating around on internet.  This image has amazed many netizens.  It is said that the ‘Bird’s Nest’ was made by some villagers.  Comparing the picture to the original Bird’s Nest, some netizens sarcastically joked that this is the real ‘bird’s nest’.  The village version nest reflects the creativity and the skills of the people.  It is also low cost and causes no pollution.  However the location of this rural version Olympic Bird’s Nest had not been located.

Source: 163

“The modern volleyball was originated in America and then spread into Europe.  China’s Volleyball female team had championed the world for seven times.”

“Table tennis was found in England.  Olympic table tennis competition included singles and doubles.  Table tennis had been given the name ‘Nation Ball’ in China.”

“Softball was found in America.  America and Japan which popularize softball are strong in this sport.”

“Basketball was found in America.  Basketball is now played widely in China.”

“The modern baseball was originated in America and it is now a polular game in America and Japan.  It is called ‘Nation Ball’ in America and Japan.”

Source: 163, Xinhua

Night Time Light Show at the Birds Nest Stadium During the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing, China Night Time Light Show at the Birds Nest Stadium During the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing, China Photographic Print by Kober Christian. Product size approximately 12 x 16 inches. Available at Art.com. Embrace your Space – your source for high quality fine art posters and prints.

via: 163

As Beijing Olympics is approaching, Beijing’s street’s decoration has been constantly changing.  The picture is the bike decoration at Chang’an Street.

Source: Zaobao

Beijing had sent an initiative to all the hotels and restaurants in the city for suspension of dog meat dishes supply during Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Dog meat is not only popular in Beijing’s Korean restaurant, but often a popular dish in Yunnan and Guizhou restaurant.

Beijing Food Safety Office issued a document in June requesting all contracted Olympic Hotels not to sell any dog meat related dishes during Olympic Games.  If there is dog meat in the ingredient of traditional medicine, it should be stated clearly.

This is to avoid discontent of animal rights organizations and Western tourists.  This action is to respect the customs of different countries.

The document proposed all restaurants stop supplying dog meat during Olympic Games but it never mention the issue of donkey meat.

In 1988 Seoul Olympics, many criticisms from the West made Korean stop eating their favourite dish, dog meat, for a period of time.

Source: Reuters

The way of planting flag was based on the Chinese acupuncture theory.  The flag poles were the acupuncture needle.  The flag on Wei’s head represented more than 200 countries and regions coming to Olympic Beijing, and hope for world peace.  A needle resembled Olympic torch was also acupunctured on his forehead.

“In previous Olympics, we often see people paint flags on their face, so I think why not flag them vertically on the head?”  58-year-old Chinese medicine doctor said.

Wei insisted that his well trained acupuncture skill took him two hours to finish the ‘flagging’.  He claimed that it was good for health.  His nation tour performance dumbfounded the audience.

He told the Reuters reporter that it was not pain at all while he was inserting the ‘flag pole’ into his head.  He felt more energetic every single time doing it.

He said that he was used to acupuncture and he knew where and how deep the needle should be acupunctured.  He also claimed that acupuncture made him looked younger.

To celebrate August 8 opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, Wei also made a stunning acupuncture plan — acupuncture his head with 2008 needles.

It was expected the whole process would take 18 hours.  It was also expected to break his record in Guinness Book of World Records which he acupunctured 1,790 needles in 2004.

Wei self-studied Chinese medicine.  He worked at Guangxi as community doctor initially and then opened a cosmetology healthy product company.

He said that his annual performance of acupuncture skills is to promote world peace and harmony, not to promote his products.

It is also important that amateur do not imitate his acupuncture at home.

Source: Reuters