Centered around a complex of bars, restaurants and stylish shops called The Village, Sanlitun is being redeveloped and reinvented in time for the flood of foreign and domestic visitors expected to come for this month's Games.

The Temple of Heaven, literally the Altar of Heaven is a complex of Taoist buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing, in Xuanwu District.

Peking Duck, or Peking Roast Duck is a famous duck dish from Beijing that has been prepared since the imperial era, and is now considered one of China’s national foods.

The Mongolian hot pot tradition originated from northern nomadic tribes. The Mongolian version of the steaming feast has been called the father of all Chinese hot pot.

Beijing opera or Peking opera is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century.

Beijing's temple fair originated during the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) and continued through several dynasties including the Yuan (1271-1368), the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911).