Beijing's lasting legacy

If you woke up yesterday hung over from Friday night's intoxicating opening ceremony, welcome to the club. I did too, and will probably take months to get over it.

Those of us who live in Beijing and have been watching China prepare for its "coming out party" never doubted its ability to throw a grand bash. It's difficult to best the Chinese when it comes to dazzling guests. And this one turned out just like a regular Chinese party, where you are plied with so much alcohol that you feel dizzy for days after.

So no surprises there. What has been really dizzying, instead, is Beijing's transformation over this past year. Being the capital of a country that's changing by the minute, Beijing is, of course, no stranger to change. But this time, it has outpaced even itself. Stunning buildings have shot up in the skyline, glitzy malls have appeared out of nowhere, public transport has been revolutionized, entire neighborhoods refurbished, and gleaming new roads added to the city's already awe-inspiring infrastructure.