'The first Quanjude restaurant originated on Qianmen Street back in 1888,' said the worker, who would like to remain anonymous. 'After the recent overhaul of the whole street, Quanjude will hang the original 19th-century tablet to showcase our 120-year history and welcome foreign visitors.'

'History will be the most attractive element to foreign visitors when they come to China during the Games,' said Alexandra Oikonomidou, director of Ogilvy Public Relationship Worldwide, who worked for two years with the Athens organizing committee for the 2004 Games.

'And it will be the most distinguishing feature of the Beijing Games. Given the history of Quanjude, more than 5,000 tourists will come to our restaurant every day,' Wang Chengguo gushed.

Quanjude is just a part of the much-anticipated gold rush. The Games could bring up to 500,000 tourists and $400 million in tourism revenues for the host city, according to the Beijing tourism administration.

Local officials have taken the initiative to help cater for businesses across the city to upgrade infrastructure and prepare better products and services targeting foreign tourists. The city, for example, has recently been promoting English training and has standardized the English translation of restaurant menus, some of which used to be puzzling, to say the least.

'I am glad to see so many Chinese people try to learn English,' said Oikonomidou. 'It shows the sincerity with which China is greeting overseas guests.'

The Chongwen district government has organized several interpreters, fluent in six languages, to help foreigners learn about Chinese history.

Noble Club, a high-end eatery right next to the north gate of Ditan Park, has been offering English language-training courses to its 100-plus wait staff since May.

They have been taking English tests every month and the best students were awarded with cash bonus. About 30 of them will wear badges saying 'English service' while greeting guests during the Olympic Games.

(China Daily August 10, 2008)