With five days to go, the smog-plagued air which has clouded Beijing's Olympic preparations has finally cleared.



The city bathed in blue skies and sunshine today, in just the sort of weather organisers and worried athletes have been hoping for.



Five days ago the National Stadium was hidden by the smog, top, but today it emerged from the haze as the skies cleared

Beijing: The smog which obscuredthe city, top, has partially cleared, botttom

And as the newly built 'Bird's Nest' National Stadium came into focus China used the opportunity to rehearse what must be the world's most spectacular fireworks display.

The night sky was lit up by hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of coloured explosives, as the stadium became the centrepiece of the dress rehearsal.

Fireworks light up the National Stadium during the dress rehearsal for the opening ceremony

Lucky red: The stadium proved the display's centrepiece

Beijing is illuminated by the fireworks

Other Beijing landmarks, including the National Aquatics Center, and Tiananmen Square, were also illuminated.

Just five days ago visibility was down to half a mile in some parts, including the National Stadium, while the Athletes' Village complex could not be seen from the nearby Olympic Green.

Spectacular: Fireworks explode with an Olympic logo over Tiananmen Square

Citywide: The National Aquatics Center, known as the Water Cube, is lit up by the fireworks

Experts said overnight rain was to thank for the rare day of bright sunshine, with strict anti-pollution measures also having an impact.



Chinese authorities have taken drastic measures to show off Beijing to the world, including banning half the city's 3.3million cars from the road, spending billions on clean-up measures, and closing factories.

The fireworks were a dress rehearsal for this week's opening ceremony

Blast-off: The fireworks shoot into the sky



