Two things happened today in Beijing. First off, incoming journalists were amazed to find China had successfully lifted the brown haze in city. Skies were crystal blue and the air felt noticeably lighter. This after months of banning traffic from the town center and significantly reducing carbon emissions from nearby industrial complexes.
By nightfall Beijing came to a halt as residents were treated to what one journalist called "a spectacular display of light, sound, fire, and water." The dress rehearsal stunned people as they stopped and got out of the cars with all eyes on Bird's Nest stadium. The opening ceremony is only 5 days away. I have a feeling this is going to be the most theatrical and dramatic olympic celebration in modern history.
Hit the jump for more stunning pictures.
via Mail On Sunday
Damn, I wish i was there. My mom is lucky enough to have gotten a ticket from a relative there. Very lucky indeed as tickets were sold on lottery basis.
A friend of mine living in Beijing told me that China has been shooting off rockets to seed clouds and cause it to rain (and thus to clear out pollution for a while) for months now. She said it clears up for a week or so and then goes back to the normal smoggy conditions. I'm not sure how much China's cutting back on carbon emissions have really helped (I'm sure it has to some extent).