Nightlife will continue during the Games. Foreigners from around the world typically gather in the major bar streets such as Sanlitun and Chaoyang Park, enjoying their leisure time, drinking, chatting and dancing with friends.
"Britain's bars usually close at 11 o'clock, but in Beijing you can drink all night if you can," said Brian, a businessman, drinking a pint of Guinness alone in the famous Suzie Wong Club near Chaoyang Park. "By the way, it's much cheaper here."
"Foreigners account for half of our customers," said Samantha, the public relation woman for Suzie Wong. "Until now, we have received no orders from the authority that there will be some regulations during the Olympics."
Beijing's police department said almost 500,000 foreigners are in Beijing, permanently and temporarily, a 42 percent increase year-on-year. More than 400,000 foreigners are also estimated to be coming for the Games.
"There will be more foreigners in Beijing next year," said Cooke. "More and more people want to come to China and learn Chinese."
Cooke is having a busy summer working for his Olympic homestay project -- introducing foreigners to live in ordinary Chinese families' homes during the Games. He said he would be busier in future.
"Beijing is safe, especially for young and single girls," said Cooke who had married a Chinese girl. He noted that in some American and Canadian cities, it was too dangerous for girls to go out in the evening.
Although it is a safe city, the government has still tightened the security. X-ray scanners have been installed in subway station and passengers will face security checks when entering the platforms. Police patrols will also be strengthened during the Games.
"Such a lot of policemen make me uncomfortable," McEwen said. "But I understand, since it's for the Olympics."
International terrorism is reportedly more rampant now. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has also adjusted its visa policies. Wei Wei, Director-General of the Department of Consular Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, said a visa was the first pass for a safe Olympics.
"It's not so tight as we thought," Wei said. "One who holds a legitimate purpose to come to China can get a visa conveniently." Faced with terrorist threats, the government views security during the Games as a top priority.
However, Fossil Patros, an U.S. architecture designer, received his visa under the tighter policies. He has recently come to Beijing for business with a one-year multiple entry visa. After he checked into a hotel, his passport was replaced by a temporary residents permit.
"I've met no problems when applying for my Chinese visa," said the 38-year-old designer from Dallas. "I don't think I will have any problems during the Games."
However, in Beijing, a city where horse-drawn carriages and cars still operate side by side in its outskirts, inconveniences still exist.
Tour guide McEwen said as most local drivers still lacked experience, uncivil driving habits and traffic violations were everywhere. Such incidents leads to inconveniences; more importantly, it may damage Beijing's image.
He added that for foreign newcomers, taking local buses could be difficult. Most bus stops have no proper English directions, or they were just "Chinglish." In addition, most visitors don't know where to get off since few ticket sellers can speak English.
"Olympic volunteers can speak English. They can be found everywhere," McEwen said. "Maybe they can give help to foreigners."
(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2008)