Sorry for the confusion - there is a total solar eclipse in western China on August 1st that is the main goal of my trip.

I was considering tacking on the Olympics, but as a wheelchair user I don't do well in crowds in general and crowds in China seem even more dubious.

At this point, I'm hoping to escape before the hotel prices go sky high, but still get to see Beijing in cleaned up mode.

Thanks for the details on the routings - no one had suggested NGO or KIX. I've been wanting to schedule a KIX stopover for years.

My wife did a University sponsored trip to Beijing last July and they had some scheduled performances that seemed to be auditions for performances surrounding the Olympics or some such. Part way through the event they were told no more photography and a new group of VIPs was ushered in. At least, that's our speculation...