Dust storm at Burning Man, 2007.
San Francisco has long been the center of subversive and counter culture events. You haven't experienced the city until you do something ridiculous with a large group of people having fun simply because no one else would think to do it.
Black Rock City is the temporary city and home to the annual Burning Man event. Burning Man is an experiment in temporary community based on art, self expression, and radical self reliance.
Located at the intersection of Hayes and Octavia streets in San Francisco, Patricia's Green is a pleasant little neighborhood park with a twist: it is home to short-term art installations of the type that stop traffic.
At the time of this writing, Michael Christian's Burning Man sculpture, "Koilos", was in place (and will be until sometime in October 2008).
http://www.patriciawalkup.org/index.html
Baker Beach is located at the South end of the Golden Gate Bridge on the Pacific Ocean. Approximately a mile long, Baker Beach is part of the Golden Gate National Recreational Area and is said to be the site of the first Burning Man events.
One woman's story of her trip to the Burningman festival.
I encountered these two dressed in full business attire including briefcases, cellphones and suitbag in the middle of the playa. They were looking for a ride to the airport.
Burningman has been describes as "Disneyland Turned Upside Down". The emphasis is on community, artwork and self expression.
Bikes are huge at Burningman. Most people bring their own and modify them.
The coal power plant in Jiangyou is one of the town's main reasons for existing. That and the canola fields.