Beijing launches whirlybird tours

Beijing kicked off the New Year with its first low-altitude tourism flight.

Travelers can explore the city from aboard a helicopter, offering whirlybird's-eye views of such landmarks as the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, and the National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube.

"It was very exciting," says a passenger surnamed Zhang, who took the tour that launched on Jan 1.