Beijing Journal: The series

(CNN) -- "Beijing Journal" is an occasional series examining everyday people preparing for the 2008 Summer Games. In his series, journalist Steven Jiang reports how the approaching Olympics is affecting the lives of people in Beijing and other places in China.

The series so far:

Green dreams for China's golfers

Golf isn't widely played in China, and despite its "elite" status some of China's best golfers come from poor backgrounds. (Full story)

In Shanghai, 'gay nights' underground

At the Lai Lai Dance Hall, Min Min and others are prepared to set their sights on an alternative "Olympic" event that includes ballroom dancing as a competitive sport. (Full story)

An Olympic-sized baby boom

Xu Yunyun is bracing herself for another unusually busy year. The obstetrician at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, one of the city's premier health facilities, has seen her maternity ward filled to capacity since the beginning of last year. (Full story)

One lucky tenant

Landlords across Beijing are trying to hit the jackpot this summer, anticipating soaring demand for short-term rental from visitors shunning hotels because of inflated room rates. (Full story)

The margarita salesman

Ronjon Sen flies across the Pacific once a week to serve cocktails. The San Francisco-based business executive began his weekly U.S.-China commute only this year and, by the end of January, had racked up more than 100,000 frequent flier miles. (Full story)

An underground 'parallel universe'

Walking through a maze of narrow streets south of Tiananmen Square, Nick Frisch appeared unfazed by the sight of drastic changes -- traditional courtyard houses that once lined up these hutongs, or alleys, now in different stages of being knocked down. (Full story) E-mail to a friend

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