Visitors are encouraged to take part in performances and demonstrations because the organizers believe "doing" is the best way to leave a lasting impression. The experience is enjoyable on its own, but knowing something about it helps you understand it better.

You might even be inspired to try making and using some of the items you have seen once you get home. The materials in the cabins are not usually for sale. But some of them are given away after demonstrations.

Young visitors might also be interested in the Fuwa Parade, a mobile show featuring the five mascots, which takes place on the China Story campus twice daily in the morning and afternoon.

The Xiangyun Theatre puts on variety shows every evening between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. in an open-air facility at the northeast corner of the Green. It has a fantastic stage, a sophisticated sound system and seating for an audience of 1,000.

The China Story is the product of a half year's preparation. It will be open Aug. 9-24 and Sept. 7-17 during the Olympics and Paralympics, respectively, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The event is only open to those who will be in the Green -- athletes, others connected with the Games, and audiences attending events within the area, such as the Bird's Nest and Water Cube.

The China Story show is located about 1 mile north of the Bird's Nest. Visitors can use Subway Line 8, also known as the Olympic Sub-line, and get off at Olympic Green Station or the South Gate of Forest Park Station.

If it's crowded, you might have to wait to get into a popular cabin, but if time is short, you have 30 cabins to choose from. While you're in the area, you can also visit the exhibition halls constructed by major sponsors of the Olympics. And the spacious Green itself is a beautiful scene, with wide clean roads, sculptures, colorful flower decorations, leafy trees and steel street lamps shaped as trees.

The main road is on the axis of the city. Following it south, you will cut through the Forbidden City to Tian'anmen Square.

There's a MacDonald's and several soft drink stands in the park. They accept only renminbi, which you can get by using a Visa card at any Bank of China ATM in the park. There's a post office at the northwest corner, where a variety of Olympic postcards and stamps can be bought and mailed, in addition to normal postal service.

Bathrooms, water fountains, telephone booths and free medical centers are conveniently located. Souvenirs are available at licensed stores. Free inter-park electric vehicles will drive you around, if you are tired of walking. And blue-dressed volunteers are always ready to help.

(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2008)