The Olympics Park for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is currently under construction.

It is no easy matter, building a super-size ancient capital city. Beijing faces many difficulties in balancing construction and preservation, and cases have occurred where construction has been the cause of the destruction of cultural relics.

There are those that complain that the charm of old Beijing is gradually disappearing as grand buildings, looming flyovers and laned expressways continue to emerge, yet despite the emergence of clusters of modern buildings, it is still hard to find a suitable venue for large international conferences, such as for APEC and the Fortune Forum. In some countries, construction of skyscrapers has been suspended, but in Beijing, many advocate the construction of buildings of between 300 and 500 meters in height, the Oriental Plaza and China Grand Theater being two such controversial construction projects.

According to municipal plans, buildings along Chang'an Avenue, particularly those flanking the Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tian'anmen), should not exceed a height of 30 meters. The Oriental Plaza, along Chang'an Avenue to the east of Tian'anmen, however, stands 50-60 meters tall, dwarfing the vermilion gate and the Great Hall of the People. Wu Liangyong considers it "an abomination."

The China Grand Theater to the west of the Great Hall of the People was designed by French architect Paul Andrew, and construction started in December 2001. It has an area of 18,000 square meters and is covered by a titanium and glass roof that gives it the appearance of a huge egg. There were criticisms of the decision to place such a strange-looking modernity by the side of the solemn Great Hall of the People and Chang'an Avenue. "It is failure of huge proportions, as regards its design in pursuit of form, damage to its function, and aspects of waste and disproportion," says Liu Xiaoshi. Others, however, have indicated their approval at such a form, which, they say, has neither duplicated the structures nearby, nor caused any conflict, while the current lack of public acceptance is altogether a separate matter. Like the White Pagoda in the Beihai Park, also an alien structure, people will gradually come to accept it. "Beijingers will never ultimately refuse things foreign," they conclude.

The 21st Universiade Village has been converted into a students' dormitory area.

Ping'an Avenue runs parallel to Chang'an Avenue. Two years after opening to traffic, the street still looks staid and lacking in vitality, and its low, ancient-style grey houses, with too much emphasis on tradition, and the lack of parking space, have been blamed. Ping'an Avenue's critics say that a modern city should be in tune with the times, and that tunnel-vision imitation of ancient architecture can only create "ghost" streets.

Another controversy is the Beijing Central Business District (CBD), currently under construction. When completed, this 40,000-square-kilometer area will accommodate 200,000 people. Some criticize the CBD as being too close to the city center, saying that the 200,000 people simultaneously going in and out will exacerbate the already appalling traffic congestion in the area. Others question the wisdom of erecting a 300-meter high building in the area. Outspoken Wu Liangyong describes the CBD as "a new cancer."

Despite many controversies, municipal officials, city planners and architects have learned a lot from the experience and lessons of the past 50 years, which will enable them to build a more beautiful Beijing. It is reported that a new plan to build Beijing into a cosmopolis has passed the examination and approval of the Chinese Ministry of Construction. It is hoped that when the plan is implemented, Beijing will become a genuine cosmopolis in terms of economy, culture and international exchanges.