By Allen Chesney

Staff Writer

Americans who attend the Beijing 2008 Olympics next month will be visiting the capital of one of the world’s oldest and most fascinating cultures.

They also will be visiting a nation that few Americans could visit for 40 years after World War II when China was under the Communist rule founded by the famous Mao Zedong.

China today is a rapidly modernizing economy emerging on the global stage. And visitors to Beijing will see plenty of evidence of that.

The Olympic venues are complete on the city’s north side, but they are surrounded by hundreds of construction cranes working on hotels, office high-rises and apartment buildings.

A Chattanooga church group that visited China recently found Beijing’s air to be very smoggy on two of the three days we were there. However, Chinese officials say the air quality will be better for the Olympics starting on Aug. 8.

Anyone who visits the Olympics also should spend some time exploring the historic city.

Here are some of the highlights to see in Beijing:

* The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the early 15th century to 1911, when the last dynasty fell. The square-mile walled complex is open daily and thronged by visitors from all over the world.

* The Summer Palace outside Beijing is an extensive park and palace complex where visitors can take boat rides on the Kunming Lake, enjoyed by Chinese emperors during their summer retreats.

* The Temple of Heaven in southeast Beijing is enjoyable not only for its history and ornate architecture but for the many Chinese here who participate in everything from martial arts to dance to poker games.

* Of course, everyone who visits Beijing will want to see the Great Wall of China. This mountaintop wall to protect the Chinese Empire from tribes to the north stretched for thousands of miles across northern China.

E-mail Allen Chesney at achesney@timesfreepress.com

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