In the rest of the country -- even the country's capital, Beijing -- residents boil their water or buy it in bottles.

CNN: Economic miracle, environmental disaster

Lots of people even have the private cars needed to drive an hour or two to the mountains near Beijing and some other urban centers.

FORBES: All uphill from here

There were even rumors of giving the Games back to Sydney (hosts in 2000) or letting Beijing have the Games four years earlier (hosts in 2008).

CNN: The price of the Games