No news of the earthquake on the Wanbao today -- it hit stalls just about when the earth was shaking. An aftershock was rumored by means of text messages, only to be denied by those at the top, but in this day and age -- better safe than sorry. Neglect the "maybes" at your peril. Condolences to those affected by the quake -- our hearts and prayers are with you through these troubled times...

OK -- now onto things that were covered on the Wanbao -- that's an extra 150,000 hectares of green land you're given to play around with, Beijing. Ever been on Beitucheng West Road near that soon-to-be Xitucheng Line 10 station? You get the feel. City rainforest, nothing less!

Big pic 88 days before the Games: 300 new pedicabs around Shichahai. Flame's in Quanzhou, XIamen, by the way.

Elsewhere...

• We're finally taking that super-long Line 2 - 13 transfer inside somewhere with a roof on top of the whole thing. Introducing the new Subway transfer at Xizhimen. When will this thing open? (Pic, page 3)

• One-day trips to the Great Wall and Ming Tombs often beget the most complaints; problem number one, in particular, are those tough-talking tour guides. (Compare that with the almost optimized British English humanized voice yours truly uses to entertain fellow visitors at the Planning Exhibition Hall.) (Page 5)

• Mushrooms on your wall? Ow! And this, just after six months in somewhere new! (Side pic, page 6)

• Holy...! An accident involved a minivan (which flipped over) happened on the BRT bus lane, creating traffic pandemonium that lasted for 30+ minutes. (Bottom pic, page 7)

• Bang! That was an overloaded truck that banged on a pedestrian bridge on the counter-clockwise loop of the eastern 3rd Ring Road not far from Huawei Bridge. Someone had to stick a makeshift support in the middle lane, forcing cars to keep left or right. Repairs are being considered; meanwhile, cars passing by are allowed in to the bus lane. (Big pic, page 8)

More sun than today -- that's in the forecast. I know said this last night already... 10°C - 24°C. (I never studied meteorology, by the way... so don't throw things at me if it suddenly starts pouring tomorrow...)