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Beijing is now accepting online bookings for rooms by visitors coming to the 2008 Olympic Games.
The Beijing Municipal Tourism Bureau (BMTB) said it is offering up to 1000 budget hotels to 2008 Olympics visitors via its central booking centre (bjta.gov.cn).
The BMTB has also ordered 4000 unrated hotels to translate their names, services offered and menu prices into English in preparation for the Games.
"The goal is to provide official names for all dishes and drinks served in the city's restaurants by end of January 2007," said an official.
Chinese restaurant menus have become the subject of international jokes because of items named "fried rice with crap", "worm pig stomach", and "corrugated iron beef".
The Games organisers have started a search for English-speaking candidates to work as official drivers and as foreign-language speaking telephone operators for emergency hotlines.
Some 6000 English-speakers from government departments are being tested for their driving skills and knowledge of the Olympics.
