Combination photographs of the Beijing skyline taken from July 11 to 19, 2008 (top row L-R July 11 to 13), (middle row, L-R, July 14 to 16) and (bottom row, L-R July 17 to 19). China has transformed its capital for the August 8-24 Olympic Games, spending 140 billion yuan (US$20.54 billion) to combat chronic pollution and create a clean, green Beijing which it hopes will promote domestic stability and showcase a newly confident nation to the rest of the world. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)
REUTERS/CLARO CORTES IV