Olympics 2008: Old Beijing Gives Way to New

OLYPlusSelectPlusSportsOlympics 2008: Old Beijing Gives Way to NewOlympics 2008: Old Beijing Gives Way to NewThe Associated PressDuring the Olympics, the world will see how Beijing has progressed into one of the world's leading capitals. But, development is taking a toll on residents, many of whom live in some of the city's most historically significant neighborhoods. (July 31((TRACK))((SUPER: Beijing))((APTN VO of square, historical sites, new construction))AT THE HEART OF BEIJING IS ITS HISTORY - THE CENTURIES-OLD VESTIGES OF CHINESE RULE.BUT THE RUN UP TO THE OLYMPICS IS LEAVING A NEW MARK ON THIS WORLD CAPITAL.TOWERS OF METAL, CONCRETE AND GLASS BEND INTO SHAPES THAT CHALLENGE THE RULES OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING.((SOT))((SUPER: Prof. Mary Brown Bullock/Emory University))'This is the shape of urban China and perhaps the model of other places in the years to come.'((TRACK))((APTN VO of historical neighborhoods))BUT IN BEIJING, PROGRESS HAS COME AT A PROFOUND COST.IN A RUSH TO BUILD BIGGER AND BETTER, AUTHORITIES HAVE TURNED A BLIND EYE TO THE WHOLESALE LEVELING OF SOME OF THE CITY'S MOST HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT NEIGHBORHOODS - CALLED 'HUTONGS.'LI DEYING'S HOME WAS SLATED FOR DEMOLITION WEEKS BEFORE THE START OF THE SUMMER GAMES.((SOT))((SUPER: Li Deying/Hutong resident))((IN Mandarin))'The demolition work here has polluted the water. It is dirty now, my child has diarrhoea.'((TRACK))((APTN VO of historical neighborhoods))SHE SAYS THE DEMOLITION WORK IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD HAS POLLUTED THE WATER, MAKING HER CHILD SICK.THE GOVERNMENT IS OFFERING TO PAY 170-THOUSAND US DOLLARS AS COMPENSATION, WHICH DEYING SAYS IS NOT ENOUGH TO BUY ANOTHER HOME NEAR THE AREA.((NATS))Man crying.((TRACK))((SUPER: Amateur Video))((APTN VO of amateur footage of man being evicted, man at desk.))THE ASSOCIATED PRESS OBTAINED THIS VIDEO SHOWING A MAN BEING EVICTED FROM HIS HOME IN 2-THOUSAND-SIX.OUTSIDE OBSERVERS ESTIMATE SOME ONE-POINT-FIVE MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES TO MAKE WAY FOR DEVELOPMENT SPURRED BY THE GAMES.FOR THEIR PART, CHINESE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS INSIST THE EVICTIONS ARE DONE IN A FAIR AND ORDERLY FASHION.((SOT))((SUPER: Wang Yuwei/Government official))((IN Mandarin))'The government provides funds, and we assist them to improve the infrastructure and their living conditions.'((TRACK))((VO of woman))WANG YUWEI, OF THE BEIJING CULTURAL HERITAGE PROTECTION DEPARTMENT SAYS THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES FUNDS AND HELPS HUTONG RESIDENTS IMPROVE THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS.BUT, EMORY UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR MARY BROWN BULLOCK SAYS WHEN IT COMES TO THE HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT HUTONGS, MOST OF THE DAMAGE IS ALREADY DONE.((SOT))((Bullock))'The character of Beijing - the narrow lanes and courtyard life - is almost gone forever.'((STANDUP))((SUPER: Jason Bronis/Beijing))'Residents we talked to insist the government is stepping up their tactics, evicting with even more force, as the start of the summer games draws near. JB, the AP, Beijing.'

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• oly
• hutongs
• olympics
• 2008:
• beijing

[ONLY1QIAN]

that is a shame

[eastern2western]

take the 170,000 dollars, move out of beijing and get a house in some cheap neighborhoods and open a business at the same time

[Daloris0667]

Lady GaGa stands around topless and in her panties - Naked Lady Gaga. C00M -

[Des0458]

- Naked Lady Gaga. C0000M - - Lady Gaga's old friend Brendan Sullivan wrote a piece about her early days for Esquire's 'Women We Love' issue

[ayanuhito]

foreigners will find the new Beijing unattractive, but it's also true the most foreigners couldn't be dare to visit the old Beijing when it was still old and exclusive to them.

[xuci111111]

Pffffffftttt ...

"Blame your Nazi leadership"?

LOL much? China, a part of the Allies force in WWII, fought Japan, a part of the Axis, and you say China is in Nazi leadership?

LOOOOOOL some of you need to read a history book or two ...

[JYYB]

hey i was there....didnt see the OYL cuz i left beijing and went to shanghai one day b4 it started..T^T

[kelsangmetok]

sersarsor. Friends, you have not waken up. You are still sleeping under the blanket of CCP's propaganda. If you continue to sleep under this CCP blanket, you will be fool the rest of your life. Learn to learn the truth. Don't blame the British. Blame your Nazi leadership for the poison injected into your mind.

[unit45x]

sersarsor: That is not true. Your history lesson is over. You are either lying on purpose, or you have been lied to your whole life and you don'y know any better. I don't know which is right, but your history of Tibet is very wrong.

[congranwang]

100000usd might sound like a lot, but you cant get an apartment for that price in the same area, real estate in the central part of beijing may cost up to millions!!