other side of the house. The room that faces north will be used as an exhibition area to showcase a collection of family antiques. Zhu said, "I am sure that foreign guests will be able to experience an authentic Beijing lifestyle."

To become a qualified Olympic home-stay host, Zhu has bought books on the cultural differences between the East and the West. "I don't want to become a laughing stock," he said.

The courtyard of Zhu's house is small, but contains exquisitely cultivated trees and plants, as well as goldfish and singing birds in cages.

According to the regulations, the Beijing Municipal Tourism Bureau is in charge of providing local cuisine, bed sheets, anti-bacterial lotion for cleaning, fire extinguishers and training material on Western etiquette, sanitary and safety knowledge to home-stay families.

The rate for a home-stay is $60 to $80 per day per room. "Prices may differ slightly according to location and size, and whether breakfast is included. The final price will be on the contract," said Zhou Shuqi, an official of the Beijing Municipal Tourism Bureau.

China International Travel Service and China Travel Service offer package tours that cover food, tickets, transportation and accommodation in Olympic home-stays, priced at 5,000 yuan ($714) and 8,000 yuan ($1,143) for four days and three nights or five days and four nights respectively.

Zhu's neighbor, 61-year-old Zhang Jing, has also had his home approved as an Olympic home-stay. Zhang's house, also a siheyuan, dates back 386 years. "Our family has been living here for 60 years and we have received many foreign tourists," Zhang said.

Zhang, an expert on folklore, has designed the guest rooms into different themes so that guests can choose rooms according to their interests and tastes. "I want them to sample the essence of Chinese lane culture and also enjoy hearty services," Zhang said.

Grapevines cast their shadow across Zhang's courtyard during the day. "The grapes are still green, but they will ripen right in time for our Olympic guests," said Zhang, who has tickets for the table tennis and soccer competitions.

The apartment of Qian Xuepu, a retired hydrologist and Olympic home-stay host, is only 400 meters away from the Beijing National Stadium, which will host the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies. Qian and his wife have redecorated one room, which has a laptop computer. Qian, who speaks fluent English, is also an avid amateur swimmer, who swims every day. He has trained his eight-year-old granddaughter as an amateur ice hockey player who has participated in international competitions.

Foreign tourists traveling in tour groups can book home-stays at the headquarters of China International Travel Service and China Travel Service. A number of American and Japanese tourists have already booked home-stay package tours.