Forget about your hamburger. Relish instead those Olympic heroes.
It was 1:35 p.m. The second floor of the McDonald's in Changchunjie Street throbbed with the bellowed roars as dozens of people hailed victory for China's all-conquering gymnast Yang Wei as he won the men's all-round title, the 20th gold medal for China at the Beijing Olympics.
It is the most obvious sign of an Olympic obsession that has gripped China since the first nervous opening night on Aug. 8.
All televisions at home, in restaurants, barbershops and malls are on with live Olympic broadcasts.
More guests together acclaims
"Ziran Men", a grill restaurant near Jiaochangkou Hutong in Xuanwu District, opens around the clock every day with its TV on - and it is getting more business during the Olympics.
"Even at midnight, dozens of guests still stay here, drinking beers and watching games," said its manager, surnamed Yang.
"Some young guys with tattoos on their arms often wield national flags and shout furiously. I didn't expect that," Yang said.
Yang told Xinhua he was afraid guests would have smashed plates and cups when Chinese team lost scores, because "all of us are so patriotic and proud of our athletes."
Li Xiufen, manager of another nearby restaurant, said she got one third more guests thanks to the Olympic live show.
She herself would watch the game when there were no guests and sometimes neighbors would also join her. When Chinese male gymnasts won the team gold on Aug. 12, she was so excited and could not help crying when the winners hugged tightly on the podium.
Barber holds his scissors
The boss and two assistants in the "Ying Pai" (or Eagle style) Barbershop in Xicheng District were watching the Chinese women's weight-lifting competitors when a client came in unnoticed.
"Our business is not so good because many people stay at home watching the Olympics. But we don't care that much and we enjoy the Games too," said the boss, surnamed Xu.
Xu switched TV channels frequently, afraid of missing any games of Chinese Olympic Delegation.
There are moments when the Olympic drama commands more attention than the job in hand.
"Once in the middle of a haircut when the game came to the last minute, the barber held his scissors and both he and client turned to the screen until the end of the game," Xu said.
Xu told Xinhua he was also an Olympic volunteer for public security and that he had the responsibility to watch the surrounding law-and-order situation.
"We were most excited when Chen Xiexia got the first gold medal for China. And we hailed Chinese women's gymnasts. One of the gymnasts came from my hometown Anhui Province," an assistant added.
Videogame players turn to real games
The big TV set on the wall of the "Meng Ma" Videogame Shop in Xuanwu District was once used for customers' trial play. But now it gives live Olympic Games full time.
"People who come to buy game machines often stay until the on-going Olympic game on TV is over, and even waiters from the neighboring restaurant come here to watch it," the owner surnamed Liu said.
Liu told Xinhua the shop assistant was jostled to the outside when too many people were crowding in his house to watch the Chinese men's basketball competition against Spain.
"I am not a big sports fan, but I cheer for the Beijing Olympic Games and for my country," Liu said.
(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2008)