Despite having access to CNN, BBC World, reasonably fast broadband and clearance into a high security Olympics testing lab, I am unable to read Computing’s newsdesk blog in China. I can read Computing's news pages and the comments, but when I go to the blogs, there’s a long pause before being told “page can’t be displayed.”

Apart from that 'restriction', it’s not so different from home. The most alien morsels on tonight’s menu were duck brains - served with the rest of the duck - and turtle. I don’t mind admitting that I wasn’t brave enough to try either - and was very happy with mandarin fish and ginger-spiced scrambled egg. Our hosts dismissed our queries about the likelihood of encountering monkey brains or cat, which they said would be “very unusual…possibly in the south.“

Chinese people are very tolerant of westerners who haven‘t got the hang of the etiquette; we have it very easy here, more so than in many European countries, I would say. There’s no pressure to speak Chinese, or do things the Chinese way - and their understanding of British culture is as good as ours. The most challenging thing for me, so far, has been handing over business cards with both hands, while trying not to drop my handbag.

As a technology journalist, I’ve been welcomed with open arms and apart from not being able to get to our blog, I can find out everything I need to know. I don’t have to ask any awkward questions about politics and human rights, because I’m hear to find out more about something that China clearly does very well.

Hosting the Olympics is a century old dream for China, since a student paper in 1908 asked when it would happen. Sun Weide, deputy director of Beijing’s organising committee for the Games, reminded us about this earlier today, as he talked about what the Olympic means to China.

“We have adopted three key concepts,” he said. “Green Olympics, high-tech Olympics - to promote the growth of high-tech industry in China - and the People’s Games. And we hope the events will promote better understanding between China and the outside world.”

The National Aquatics Centre, known as 'The Water Cube, is glowing blue tonight. Sometimes it’s red, or is set up so the bubbles make a ripple effect. I guess I won’t see it any other way before I go, but I’m certainly glad to have been here at all.

By Janie Davies

In a traditional Chinese restaurant in central Beijing, the waitresses dart around in full length silk gowns and enormous floral headdresses, carrying buckets of water and paper lanterns containing small candles.

They curtsey and greet us all in Chinese, before whipping out their handheld, electronic pads to take our orders. Later, our host and interpreter, wearing a shiny pink Bluetooth headset, laughs as she tries to translate the symbolism of each dish into something we can relate to.

And overlooking Beijing’s Olympic stadium, affectionately named the 'birds nest', I have to remind myself that China is still emerging. Everything is geared up towards the 2008 Olympics, from special lighting along the highways, to the corporate neon signs lighting up the high rise sprawl.

It is clear already that the Games are going to leave an enormous legacy and the anticipation is in the air. The preparations for Beijing 2008 are immense. Atos Origin, IT partner of the International Olympic Committee, has had a team here since 2004, working with the Beijing Organising Committee and local and international technology firms.

There will be 4000 IT experts and 21,600 media representatives involved in the event that will cover 28 sports, across 70 venues and seven cities. And when that’s all over, the systems will be modified for the Paralympics Games in September.

It was 1932 when stop watches and the human eyes proved insufficient and officials turned to newsreel film to determine that US runner Eddie Tolan was winner of the 100 meters race. Since then the Games has evolved from telex to computer punch cards, live coverage and eventually the internet.

The Beijing Games are meant to be the most-technologically enabled ever - and while I’ve only just heard of Qinhuangdao and Tianjin, I can see why Chinese cities are ready for it.

By Janie Davies