Beijing began winding down from the Olympics, with athletes, officials and journalists clearing out of their residential halls and packing buses to the airport.

Beijing's airport heaved with people but appeared to be coping well under the strain without major delays to flights.

The airport underwent a massive pre-Games renovation complete with a vast new terminal.

Authorities even laid on entertainment for departing passengers.

In one part of the new terminal, volunteers dressed as Fuwa or "Friendlies", the five stylised animals who were the official mascots of the Games, mingled with passengers.

Some posed for photographs with the colourful characters.

Traditional Chinese opera singers performed in another section of the Norman Foster-designed terminal.

State media said more than 10,000 Olympics passengers were expected to use the airport on the first day after the closing ceremony, and more than 3,000 tomorrow.

Check-in facilities have been installed at the Olympic village, where bags can be checked and boarding passes issued to make it easier to leave the country.

Still, the fun and games are not entirely over.

After a two-week break, the Paralympics open in Beijing on September 6 and run until September 17, although organisers do not expect nearly as many visitors to attend as came to the Olympics.