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Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
 The 2008 Summer Olympics closed Sunday night in a display of tightly scripted merriment and lavish fireworks, a final burst of pomp ending 17 days of sports and celebration that Chinese authorities organized with flawless precision and an unbending security clampdown. (By Ezra Shaw -- Getty Images)
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In Beijing, Tourists Are Dazzled, Daunted
"Friendly" is not the only word many of the same tourists use to describe their main impressions as they roam around Beijing. Power, artifice, intimidation: Those are also common.
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Postmark Beijing
The Post's Ariana Eunjung Cha reports on issues and events at the host city of this summer's Olympic Games.
More World Olympics News
Posh Parties Show a Beijing Awash in Capitalism (Post, August 16, 2008; Page A11)
Burdened By China's Gold Standard (Post, August 16, 2008; Page E01)
China Frees 8 American Protesters After Diplomatic Pressure (Post, August 25, 2008; Page A11)
A Mission of Dissent In the Heart of Beijing: Caution, Resilience Aided Pro-Tibet Team (Post, August 23, 2008; Page A01)
China's 'Socialist Family' Sacrifices: Water, Coal Are Diverted for Beijing Games (Post, August 23, 2008; Page A08)
China Says 6 Americans Detained Over Protest Could Be Held 10 Days (Post, August 22, 2008; Page A14)
During Games, a Forced Vacation for Beijing's Migrant Workers (Post, August 21, 2008; Page A08)
Protest Application Brings Labor-Camp Threat, Woman Says (Post, August 21, 2008; Page A10)
Chinese Treat Shopping as an Olympic Event (Post, August 20, 2008; Page A10)
Hurdler's Olympic Injury Breaks China's Heart: Disappointed Fans Reproach Athlete (Post, August 19, 2008; Page A07)
In Beijing, a Permit to Protest Only After Games End (Post, August 19, 2008; Page A06)
Across China's Countryside, 'Just Too Busy' for Olympics: Vaunted Games Barely Noticed by Farmers Focused on Harvest (Post, August 15, 2008; Page A12)
China's Choreographed Detentions: Expelled U.S. Protesters Tell of Hospitality and Haranguing (Post, August 15, 2008; Page A01)
No Permits, No Protests In Beijing's Special 'Pens' (Post, August 15, 2008; Page A14)
Some Olympians Dissatisfied With Religious Center (Post, August 14, 2008; Page A13)
Ping-Pong? That's So Old China. (Post, August 14, 2008; Page A01)
Official Acknowledges Opening Ceremony Lip-Syncing (Post, August 13, 2008; Page A16)
In Tiananmen of Games, No Trace of '89 Massacre (Post, August 12, 2008; Page A01)
Beijing Curbs Religious Rights: Christian Activists Detail Harassment (Post, August 10, 2008; Page A12)
Olympic Spirit: Rah-Rah Diplomacy (Post, August 11, 2008; Page A01)
Three Security Officials Killed in W. China: Stabbings at Checkpoint Are 3rd Deadly Incident in Xinjiang Region in Days (Post, August 13, 2008; Page A08)
For China, It's Showtime: Games Offer Platform to Display Party's Achievements (Post, August 8, 2008; Page A01)
Extravagant Ceremony Opens 2008 Olympic Games (Post, August 9, 2008; Page A01)
Early in the Games, Glimpses Of China's Security Struggles (Post, August 11, 2008; Page A10)
The Opening Ceremony By the numbers: (Post, August 9, 2008; Page A10)
For Chinese, A Long-Awaited Occasion of Hope and Pride (Post, August 9, 2008; Page A10)
China Rebuffs Criticisms As Bush Arrives in Beijing: Bush Tells U.S. Olympians They Represent 'the Finest Nation on Face of the Earth' (Post, August 8, 2008; 8:43 AM)
China Rebuffs Criticisms As Bush Arrives in Beijing (Post, August 8, 2008; Page A10)
In Cleanup Effort, Beijing Moved Factories to Clog Air Elsewhere (Post, August 7, 2008; Page A18)
Foreign Activists Manage to Pierce China's Broad Security Apparatus (Post, August 7, 2008; 11:07 AM)
Hong Kong Bars Chinese Dissident: U.S. Resident and Scholar Had Planned to Travel to Mainland (Post, August 7, 2008; Page A14)
U.S. in 'Firm Opposition' to Chinese Human Rights Policies, Bush Says (Post, August 7, 2008; Page A15)
Lomong Is Chosen To Carry U.S. Flag: Sudan Native Became U.S. Citizen in 2007 (Post, August 7, 2008; Page E01)
Foreign Activists Manage to Pierce China's Broad Security Apparatus (Post, August 7, 2008; Page A01)
Savoring the Olympic Spotlight: Thousands of Chinese, Many Without Event Tickets, Flock to Beijing to Bask in National Pride (Post, August 4, 2008; Page A07)
Defiant Chinese Jailed Before Olympics: Crackdown Defies Vow Beijing Made to Be Host (Post, August 2, 2008; Page A01)
Pro- and Anti-Bush Rallies Mark President's Visit to S. Korea (Post, August 6, 2008; Page A08)
In Run-Up To Beijing Games, a Gold Rush: China Defines Success By Precious Medals (Post, August 3, 2008; Page A01)
Rights Groups Accuse IOC of Complacency (Post, August 6, 2008; Page A13)
China's Would-Be Protesters Denied: Those Applying for Demonstration Permits Say They Are Rejected Out of Hand (Post, August 6, 2008; Page A13)
Bush Says It's 'Important to Engage' China: A Mixed Appraisal on Eve of Visit (Post, August 5, 2008; Page A01)
Truck, Grenade Attack in China Kills 16 Policemen (Post, August 4, 2008; Page A07)
Journalists Say China Is Not Living Up To Openness Pledge (Post, August 3, 2008; Page A20)
The 7-foot-6 Vessel of China's Hopes: Yao Ming, 'Image Ambassador' (Post, July 24, 2008; Page A01)
Chinese Officials Give Club District a Cleanup (Post, July 30, 2008; Page A01)
A Fresh Face For the Olympics: Beijing Bans Freely in Quest for Better Air (Post, July 21, 2008; Page A07)
Sudan Runners Focus on Games, Not Darfur (Post, August 4, 2008; Page A01)
Beijing Cabbies Ordered Into Uniforms for Games (Post, August 2, 2008; Page A11)
In China, the Tale of the Tape Measure: Controversial Sports Schools Breed Elite Athletes Partly Based on Their Body Types (Post, August 3, 2008; Page A21)
Hu Asserts World's Confidence in China (Post, August 2, 2008; Page A11)
China Rebukes President Bush for Meeting With Chinese Dissidents (Post, July 31, 2008; 1:14 PM)
If That Doesn't Clear the Air . . .: China, Struggling to Control Smog, Announces 'Just-in-Case' Plan (Post, August 1, 2008; Page A01)
Hoping for Just Enough Rain: Ahead of the Olympics, Beijing Obsesses Over the Weather (Post, July 31, 2008; Page A10)
IOC Allows China To Limit Reporters' Access to Internet: Censorship Reverses Pledge by Beijing (Post, July 31, 2008; Page A10)
2 Iraqi Athletes Set for Beijing After IOC Lifts Ban (Post, July 30, 2008; Page A10)
China Group Asserts That It Bombed Buses: Officials Play Down Claims on Video, Which Includes Threats to Olympics (Post, July 27, 2008; Page A14)
Olympic Ticket Tumult In Beijing (Post, July 26, 2008; Page A10)
Air Pollution Worsens After Controls Kick In: Beijing Limits Driving as Games Near (Post, July 26, 2008; Page A10)
IOC Says Iraq Won't Be Allowed at Olympics (Post, July 25, 2008; Page A01)
Beijing's Water Policies Add to Crisis, Report Says (Post, June 27, 2008; Page A13)
For Hosts, Games Lose Some Luster: Many Beijing Residents Find Tribulations of Olympics Outweigh Benefits (Post, July 2, 2008; Page A01)
China Set To Protect Olympics: Terrorism, Protests Get Equal Priority (Post, July 25, 2008; Page A16)
3 Olympic 'Protest Pens' Planned for Beijing Parks (Post, July 24, 2008; Page A14)
Across China, Security Instead Of Celebration: Police Crack Down on 'Hostile Forces,' Apply New Safety Measures (Post, July 19, 2008; Page A01)
China Is Growing Unfriendly to Foreigners, Visitors Say (Post, July 19, 2008; Page A09)
As Beijing Olympics Near, Homes and Hope Crumble: Spruce-Up Leaves Residents Few Ways to Save Property (Post, July 12, 2008; Page A06)
Before Games, China Puts Conflict on Hold: As State Urges Citizens to Keep Quiet On Grievances, Anger Turns to Violence (Post, July 8, 2008; Page A10)
Torch Conveyed Through Tibetan Capital (Post, June 22, 2008; Page A11)
China Uses Heavy Hand Even With Its Gadflies (Post, April 9, 2008; Page A01)
China's Olympic Turnabout on Knockoffs: Fake Games Merchandise Targeted (Post, June 13, 2008; Page A01)
Olympic Torch Relay Celebrations Scaled Back (Post, May 13, 2008; 12:20 PM)
Torch Brings Celebration In the Face Of Mourning (Post, May 31, 2008; Page A08)
Olympic Pride Resurges in Wake of Earthquake (Post, May 31, 2008; Page )
For Chinese Athletes, Western-Style Perks : Sponsorships, Bonuses Showcase Shift to Capitalism in Sports (Post, April 28, 2008; Page A01)
Chinese Officials Announce Plans to Clear Air Before Olympics (Post, April 14, 2008; 3:39 PM)
China Falls Short on Vows for Olympics: 'Long Way to Go' On Rights, Pollution And Press Freedom (Post, April 21, 2008; Page A01)
Olympic Chief Vows Free Speech Defense: China to Keep Tibet Closed to Foreigners (Post, April 11, 2008; Page A12)
Go, Teams! Learning The Drill In China: Official Cheerleading Squads Taught Etiquette for Olympics (Post, April 6, 2008; Page A14)
IOC Pressured on Human Rights: Olympic Official Faces Skepticism After Sentencing of Activist (Post, April 4, 2008; Page A18)
ON THE ROAD TO THE GAMES: Arrival of Olympic Torch in China Shines a Light on Politics, Security (Post, April 1, 2008; Page A12)
HUMAN RIGHTS AND CHINA: Protesters Disrupt Lighting of Torch In Ancient Olympia (Post, March 25, 2008; Page A08)
Olympics Sponsors Scrutinized After Crackdown in China (Post, March 22, 2008; Page A08)
Beijing's Crackdown Gets Strong Domestic Support: Ethnic Pride Stoked by Government Propaganda (Post, March 17, 2008; Page A12)
China Gears Up for Olympic Security Effort: 600,000-Plus 'Volunteers' to Assist Police, Troops; Activists Cite Increase in Surveillance (Post, March 11, 2008; Page A14)
China Defends Olympics Food Safety: Officials Upset After Learning U.S. Athletes Will Ship In Meat for Games (Post, February 22, 2008; Page A17)
China Defends Relocation Policy: Pre-Olympics Construction Pushes Thousands From Homes (Post, February 20, 2008; Page A14)
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