KEY POINTS:
My grandfather left his courtyard house (Beijing Siheyuan) to his youngest son (my uncle) when he passed away.
My uncle's family lived there nearly 10 years and I visited frequently before 2003, when the house was demolished.
My uncle told us, "We are so lucky to be moved
to apartment. I dream of the comfortable apartment life everyday but my neighbours' house was put in protected list as a historical place; they are quite disappointed for losing this chance to move..."
I totally understand why they itched to move into an apartment. The traditional Beijing courtyard is not a place to relax and be snug as New Zealand's lovely bungalows are. They are too old and crude to live in, have no central heating systems, no water heaters and no flash toilets.
Residents have to burn coal to cook and to boil water. If you didn't experience that kind of life, it's hard to imagine, but not everyone in Beijing can afford to buy an apartment. Because of the Beijing Olympics, the government has assisted many people to move to their dream home.
In the renovation of the old Beijing city for the Olympics, the quadrangles (Siheyuan), which bear the features of the old city, have been carefully dealt with and protected in different ways; and records concerning the origin, connotations, and incidents related to the historical places have been entirely or partially inscribed on the spot by permanent means.
I've no idea where media find these several protesters who yell their homes were "destroyed" and they are "homeless" because of the Beijing Olympics. I'm also suspicious of why media do this, persuade people to hate China? What's that for?
I really dislike talking about politics; it is too far away from the pure Olympics spirit. Let's just enjoy the wonderful games.
The Olympians have prepared for four years, we should respect their hard work. I don't expect everyone to love China as I do, but I will try to persuade as many people to watch the splendid opening ceremony as I can.
It will show all the hard preparation China has done for the Olympics.
It is not that hard to stop being critical for one day and also give to yourself a chance to enjoy the amazing programmes, I bet you won't regret it.
