1. National Stadium (Bird's Nest)
The National Stadium, as the main track and field stadium for the 2008 Olympics Games, is dubbed the "bird's nest" because of its innovative grid formation. The twig-like structural elements and the bowl-shaped roof are the masterpiece of the project, yet they posed great challenges for technicians and workers during construction. The stadium was begun in March 2004 and finished in March 2008. It was built with 36 kilometers of unwrapped steel, with a combined weight of 45,000 tonnes. Covering over 258,000 square meters, the stadium has at least 100,000 seats.
Travel tips:
Open Hours: 9:00 to 18:00
Admission: 50 yuan; 25 yuan for students
Getting there: Bus 386, 656, 660, 689, 696, 740, 753, 939, 944 or 983 to Yayuncun Stop; or take subway Line 8 to Olympic Sports Center Station, Exit B2.
2. National Center for Performing Arts
Situated in the heart of the capital, next to Tian'anmen Square, the National Center for Performing Arts is Beijing's foremost cultural center. Designed by architect Paul Andreu, the theater has been one of the most talked-about architectural projects for years, because of Andreu's audacious and innovative design and the project's grand scope. The curved building features a titanium shell and emerges like an island at the center of a lake. The theater houses three performance auditoria - a 2,416-seat opera house, a 2,017-seat concert hall and a 1,040-seat theater - as well as art and exhibition spaces.
Travel tips:
Open Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (closed on Monday)
Admission: 30 yuan for adults; 15 yuan for children
Tel: +86-010-6655 0989; +86-010-6655 0000 (ticket reservation)
Getting there: Bus 1, 4, 10, 20, 37, 52, 726, 728 and 802 to Tian'anmen West; or take subway Line 1 to Tian’anmen West Station, Exit C.
If you have a China business travel, these two attractions are worthwhile to visit.
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