Beijing has been preparing around the clock for the Olympics, which are now only half-a-year away. The Games will obviously be a boom for China, bringing visitors from all over the world. Olympic sports will be at the center of attention. However, travelers do not necessarily need to be sports fans to take advantage of the Olympics. Or rather, the post-Olympic backlash that China’s tourist industry will inevitably be hit with.

Here’s why waiting until after the Olympics to visit China is a good idea:

China’s transportation authorities have given Beijing an its environs an upgrade. Things still may get snarled during the 2-week long event, but afterwards, the city will be left with a first rate transit system. Those visiting after the events have ended will have an easy time getting from point A and point B.

The same could be said for the new hotels that are going up specifically in anticipation of Olympic visitors. After August, when the number of visitors is in decline, decent rooms should be available at a discounted rate.

The Olympics will be in August. The following month, September, is actually one of the best times to visit Beijing. The oppressive summer heat will have given way to pleasant fall weather. The frigid Siberian winds are still two months away. Beijing’s September brings “light jacket weather” at worst.

The Mid-Autumn festival gets underway on September 25th. The full autumnal moon is at the center of this family oriented holiday. Children receive dense, sweet cakes known as “moon cakes.”

Also, as Beijingers try to regain their sense of normalcy, visitors will have an easy time seeing the real side of the ancient city, its small lanes (hutongs), delicious family run restaurants, markets, and shops should be returning to business as usual by after the last Olympian has gone.