Those travelling to Beijing
for the 2008 Olympics won’t need to abandon their home comforts as residents of
the city’s ancient alleyways prepare to open their doors to followers of the Games.
Not only will they be watching the Olympics live while the
rest of us look on from behind a plasma screen, those planning to see the real
deal in 2008 can now top the experience with an authentic taste of the real Beijing, staying in hutongs as the guests of local Chinese families.
With 90,000 extra beds required, it is predicted that
homestays will provide one third of those needed, yet whilst locals will no
doubt benefit from the extra income, William Zhou believes it is the visitor
who really wins. A tour guide for the China Youth Travel Service, Zhou grew up
in a hutong and confirms that this is a unique opportunity; “they are beautiful
and will give visitors a true taste of Beijing’s
history.”
Well, we’d definitely take a slice of local culture,
convenient to the stadiums as well as the city’s historical sites, over an
internationally cloned Shangri-La Hotel any day. So come on London, how about it?
)
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