Smokestack and the Pangu Plaza Hotel. During the seven years prior to the 2008 Olympic Games, the government shutdown and/or moved most factories within the Fifth Ring Road. The factories were either relocated farther out from the city center or to another province. As far as I can tell, most smokestacks within the Fifth Ring Road are associated with coal-burning plants which provide steam for heating during the winter. (The street in front of our apartment complex is once again being dug-up… this time to work on the steam piping. I hope to go down into the tunnel at some point.)

This is some sort of a tower being constructed at the Olympic Green. Considering that I was 30-stories up when taking this picture, I think it’s going to be pretty tall. Don’t have clue as to what it is going to be, however. Click on the image to view a larger version on flickr… I really like the levels of depth to this shot (actually, shots).

This is the Olympic Sports Center, which is located not far from the apartment. The photograph is also a composite. Checkout the panda.

And, finally, the Bird’s Nest, with the Water Cube in the background.