Random Thoughts

Our next stop after the Great Wall is the famous Beijing's Olympic Stadium called the Bird's Nest.

Affectionately known as Bird's Nest, the National Stadium is situated in Olympic Green Village, Chaoyang District of Beijing City. It was designed as the main stadium of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The Olympic events of track and field, football, gavelock, weight throw and discus were held there. Since October, 2008, after the Olympics ended, it has been opened as a tourist attraction. Now, it's the center of international or domestic sports competition and recreation activities. In 2022, the opening and closing ceremonies of another important sport event, Winter Olympic Games will be held here. SOURCE.

The design of this large stadium was accomplished together by Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron and Chinese architect Li Xinggang and the others. The designers didn't do any redundant disposals to the look of the stadium. They just exposed the steel structures entirely and let them become the most natural appearance. The form of the stadium looks like a big nest which embraces and nurses human beings. Also it looks rather like a cradle bearing human beings' hope of the future. SOURCE.

The stadium covers an area of about 258 thousand square meters (99.614 square miles), which can accommodate 80,000 fixed seats and 11,000 temporary seats. Its appearance was formed by big steel frames. Its top surface is saddle-shaped with the major axis of 332.3 meters (1,090 feet) and the stub axis of 296.4 meters (972 feet). The tallest point of the stadium is 68.5 meters (225 feet) above the ground and the lowest point is 42.8 meters (140 feet). The top is covered by semi-transparent air bubble film. This kind of material is waterproof and can make enough sunshine penetrate into the stadium. Owing to that, the lawns in it can grow well. SOURCE.

Oh look, take note of this one...

The 8th session under the theme of "Icy Bird's Nest, Passionate Winter Olympics" is held at the Bird's Nest from December 7, 2016 to February 28, 2017. The stadium turns into a ski resort during this period.Tourists have opportunities to take part in more than 30 kinds of sports and entertainment activities, such as ski jumping, ice skating, snow tubing, bumper car on the ice and biathlon (cross-country skiing and rifle shooting). Besides, kids can enjoy themselves by joining some indoor activities including canoeing, fencing and equestrianism at the Children's Area. SOURCE.

Planning on going there? Here are ways on how to visit this famous tourist spot.

By Bus:
Take bus 82, 538 or 645 and get off at Guo Jia Ti Yu Chang Dong Station.
Take bus 108, 124, 18, 328, 380, 387, 409, 426, 620, 653, 694, Te 11 or T2 and get off at Ao Ti Dong Men (Olympic Sports Center East Gate) Station.
Take bus 407 and get off at Ao Ti Xi Men (Olympic Sports Center West Gate) Station.

By Subway:
Take Subway Line 10 to Beitucheng then switch to Subway Line 8 (Olympic Special Line): get off at Olympic Sports Center Station, get out of the station from Exit B1 (northwest exit) or Exit B2 (northeast exit), and walk north to it.
Beijing Bus / Subway Search