Olympic Park / Bird's Nest

• Region: Beijing
• Region type: Municipality
• City: Not yet specified
• Destination type: Not yet specified

Beijing National Stadium, universally known as the Bird's Nest for its lattice steel exterior, was built for the 2008 Summer Olympics and remains the centerpiece of Olympic Green in northern Beijing's Chaoyang District. Designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron with artist Ai Weiwei as artistic consultant, it hosted the 2008 opening and closing ceremonies and athletics events, and later the 2022 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies, making it one of the few venues used for both a Summer and Winter Games. Alongside it sits the National Aquatics Center, the Water Cube, which was reconfigured into the Ice Cube for 2022 curling. Together they anchor a large public park popular for sightseeing, photography, and evening illuminated views.

Olympic Green sits in Chaoyang District in northern Beijing, along the northern extension of the city's central axis, several kilometers north of the Forbidden City. The Bird's Nest and Water Cube stand facing each other across a central plaza, with the wider Olympic Forest Park extending further north for those wanting a longer walk or cycle.

The park is largely outdoors and open-air, so it follows Beijing's continental climate of hot summers and cold, dry winters. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable conditions for walking the large plaza between venues, while winter evenings, though cold, can be atmospheric when the stadium exterior is illuminated.

Spring and autumn generally offer the most comfortable weather for exploring the large open plazas of Olympic Green. Evenings are popular for photographing the illuminated Bird's Nest and Water Cube, and the park is especially lively around Chinese public holidays and during any special events or exhibitions hosted at the venues.

Construction of the Bird's Nest ran from 2003 to 2008 ahead of Beijing's hosting of the Summer Olympics, becoming an instant architectural icon for its complex woven-steel facade. It hosted the athletics competitions and the ceremonies of the 2008 Games, and after a design modification to its interior bowl, again hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 Winter Olympics, making Beijing the first city to host both a Summer and Winter Olympics at this stadium.

The Bird's Nest and the wider Olympic Green stand as physical symbols of Beijing's arrival as a global city following the 2008 Games, and of China's continued athletic and infrastructural ambitions demonstrated again in 2022. The venues remain a source of national pride and a popular backdrop for domestic tourism and celebratory events.

Visitors can walk the plaza between the Bird's Nest and Water Cube, go inside the stadium for a self-guided or guided tour of the interior bowl and Olympic exhibits, and photograph both structures, which are especially striking after dark when lit up. Seasonal events, concerts, and light shows are sometimes held on-site, and Olympic Forest Park nearby offers a longer walk or cycle for those wanting more time outdoors.

The Bird's Nest's distinctive woven steel exterior and the Water Cube's bubble-patterned facade are the visual highlights of the park, particularly impressive when illuminated at night. Inside the stadium, exhibits commemorate the 2008 and 2022 Games, including the Olympic cauldron and memorabilia from both events.

Beijing Subway Line 8 has stations serving Olympic Green directly, making the metro the most convenient way to reach the Bird's Nest and Water Cube. Numerous bus routes also serve the area, and taxis or ride-hailing can drop visitors close to the venue entrances.

The outdoor plaza areas of Olympic Green are generally accessible throughout the day at no charge, while entry into the Bird's Nest stadium interior typically follows set daytime hours, often closing in the early evening. Hours can vary for special events, so visitors should check official Olympic Green or Beijing tourism channels before a planned visit.

Walking through the outdoor Olympic Green plaza and viewing the exteriors of the Bird's Nest and Water Cube is typically free. Entering the Bird's Nest stadium interior or the Water Cube's indoor water park area generally requires a separate paid ticket for each venue. Current prices should be checked on the venues' official websites before visiting.

An hour or two is generally enough to walk the plaza and photograph both landmark buildings from outside. Visitors adding an interior tour of the Bird's Nest, and especially the Water Cube's indoor water park, should allow closer to half a day.

Chaoyang District around Olympic Green has a range of hotels, particularly business and mid-range options, given the area's development since 2008. Staying anywhere along Beijing Subway Line 8 keeps the Olympic venues conveniently accessible.

There are casual dining and snack options within Olympic Green itself, and a wider selection of restaurants in the surrounding Chaoyang District commercial areas a short distance away, ranging from local Chinese chains to international options.

Olympic Forest Park extends immediately north of the Bird's Nest and Water Cube for those wanting a longer nature walk. The China Science and Technology Museum sits nearby within Olympic Green, and the 798 Art District is a reasonably short trip away for art-focused visitors.

Olympic Green and Olympic Sports Center stations on Beijing Subway Line 8 both serve the park directly. Bus routes and taxi or ride-hailing pickups are also readily available around the venue's perimeter roads.

The large open plazas can get very crowded during holidays and evenings, so keep an eye on children and belongings in dense crowds. Expect security screening when entering ticketed areas such as the stadium interior. Stay hydrated in summer given the amount of open, sun-exposed walking between venues.

Comfortable walking shoes are useful given the size of the plaza between the Bird's Nest and Water Cube. Sun protection in summer and warm layers in winter are advisable, since much of the visit takes place outdoors, and a camera is worth having ready for the illuminated evening views.

Visiting in the early evening allows you to see the venues in daylight and then watch them light up after dark, generally considered the most photogenic time. Checking ahead for any concerts, exhibitions, or seasonal events at the venues can add extra interest to a visit.

For emergencies anywhere in China, dial 110 for police, 120 for ambulance, and 119 for fire services; the national tourism complaint and assistance hotline is 12301. Staff and security personnel are stationed throughout Olympic Green and at venue entrances.

The official Beijing National Stadium and National Aquatics Center websites, along with Beijing's municipal tourism resources, list current opening hours, ticket prices, and any special events, and are the most reliable sources to check before visiting.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.