If you have the opportunity to visit China for the 2008 Summer Olympics, you'd better be well into the planning stage. Time is growing shorter by the second, facilities are already crowded, and tickets are going fast. Before you board that airplane to Beijing, make sure you have a valid passport and visa. The visa will cost approximately $100, and cannot be obtained via the mail. Check the website for the Chinese Embassy for more information. You'll also need both documents to leave China, so unless you plan on taking up permanent (and illegal) residence, keep up with them.

China is the third largest country in the world (beat out by Russia and Canada), and Beijing, where most Olympic events will be held, is the capital. China is the fourth largest tourist destination in the world, with 1.7 million Americans visiting annually, according to one report from their tourism bureau. But while Chinese are used to foreigners, it might behoove you to learn a little about the country, and prepare accordingly.

Summer in Beijing is hot and sweltering; think Houston, and you'll be close. Take appropriate clothing and toiletries, and be prepared for overwhelming heat. Clothing should be casual and comfortable, but not revealing. Cotton is great for the climate. If you plan on visiting sites other than the Olympics, it's important for women to take trousers, because many temples will not allow women in skirts.

Beijing is twelve hours ahead of New York. Calculate your time difference and prepare for jet lag. Don't arrive expecting to rush off to an event; allow yourself time to reset your internal clock. Experienced travelers know all about this, of course, but some of us less-off-the-beaten-path types may not expect the total impact jet lag can have on your schedule. Just imagine rotating your clock by twelve hours for a couple of days, and you'll get the picture.

While the Chinese culture is more formal than most westerners are used to, it's not entirely different. Greet people with a salutation or handshake. Hugs or kissing on the cheek is not acceptable in the Chinese culture as a greeting. Introduce yourself as you do here, giving your full name. It might help you to know that in China, as in most oriental cultures, a person's sir name is used first. Hence, if you're meeting a family, it may seem they all have the same name. Listen for the last' name; that's their given name. As in the US, many names have specific meanings, donating origin, a blessing or

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