By Wang Zhiyong

A China.org.cn-run website was launched Monday to help worldwide athletes, referees, officials, journalists and tourists easily find attractions, restaurants, entertainment venues and shopping centers during the Olympics period.

The website named "Visit Beijing", offers rich English language information about Beijing's sightseeing, dining, nightlife, and shopping as well as many useful tips when traveling in the city.

Click to see the "Visit Beijing"

Within the "Sightseeing" column, you can easily find a practical guidance of several tour itineraries, special recommendation for first-comers, locations to experience hutong life, attractions for kids and even new architecture wonders within the city.

Hundreds of restaurants are included in the "Dining" column, with detailed categories of Beijing Roast Duck, popular regional cuisines as well as refined world cuisines operated in the city. Special offers are also provided for Muslims and vegetarians. With the guidance, tourists can easily find a Tibetan or Xinjiang restaurant in Beijing. Picture menus are often served to those want to taste the popular local dishes.

As a vigorous city, Beijing is witnessing booming nightlife. Bars, KTV houses, nightclubs, places for live music as well as dozens of theaters, concert halls and cinemas. There is even a section for LGBT offerings. It is all catalogued in the "Nightlife" column. It should give Olympic visitors an unforgettable experience in Beijing.

The website recommends dozens of art galleries, shops, museums, fitness centers, beauty salons, and sport venues. Special streets also noted, such as Silk Street, Antique Street and streets for snacking.

About 2 million domestic tourists and 450,000 overseas tourists are expected to visit Beijing during the period of the Olympic Games, according to the forecasts by the Games organizer and Beijing municipal tourism bureau.

(China.org.cn July 18, 2008)