Olympic Venues

Thirty-seven competition venues are needed for the 2008 Olympic Games with 31 planned in Beijing and six in the co-host cities of Qingdao, Hong Kong, Tianjin, Shanghai, Shenyang and Qinhuangdao. Following the "Green Olympics, High-Tech Olympics, People's Olympics" concepts, the construction of the venues incorporate art and utility. The construction of the Games?venues is progressing smoothly and will be completed by the end of 2007.

National Stadium

The National Stadium, dubbed the "Bird's Nest" is one of the two main venues of the 2008 Olympic Games. With a capacity of  91,000, including 11,000 temporary seats, it will host the opening and closing ceremonies and the track and field events of the 2008 Games. Co-designed by the Swiss company Herzog & DeMeuron and China Architecture Design Institute, the nest-like architecture will be used to stage sports events at national and international levels as well as cultural and entertainment activities after 2008.
Beijing Olympic Green, Chaoyang District
108, 415, 713, 751, 851

National Aquatics Centre

The main structure of the National Aquatics Centre, one of the two competition venues of the 2008 Olympic Games, was topped off on April 11. The Centre, dubbed the "Watercube," because of its futuristic, artful architecture, has a seating capacity of 17,000, including 11,000 temporary seats. The design of "Watercube" makes it resemble a giant box of blue bubbles floating in space. But its beauty is more than "skin-deep" and more than simply aesthetically pleasing. Its advanced design will employ solar energy to adjust the temperature of swimming pool, among other high-tech advances and innovations.
Beijing Olympic Green, Chaoyang District
108, 415, 713, 751, 851

National Indoor Stadium

Located in the projected Olympic Green in north Beijing, it covers a floor area of 68,700 square metres and will have an 18,000-seat capacity upon its completion by the end of 2007. As the gymnastics and handball venue, the National Indoor Stadium resembles a traditional Chinese folding fan, will be turned into a fitness and recreational centre for Beijing's citizens.
Beijing Olympic Green, Chaoyang District
108, 415, 713, 751, 851

Olympic Forest Park

A 1,060-hectare Olympic Forest Park is springing up in the North-central Beijing. The Fifth Ring Road will bisect the park, dividing it into two parts. The northern part is planned to be a natural, intensively managed forest, while the southern part will be an ecological forest garden.
North of Beijing Olympic Green, Qinghe Town, Chaoyang District
305, 752, 819, 909