Bird's Nest and Olympic Green 奥林匹克公园Àolínpǐkè Gōngyuán

Why go to Bird's Nest and Olympic Green

At the northern end of Beijing's central axis, the Olympic Green was laid out for the 2008 Summer Olympics and used again for the 2022 Winter Games. Walk the plaza between the round National Stadium, nicknamed the Bird's Nest for its woven-looking steel frame, and the square National Aquatics Centre, or Water Cube, a pairing often said to echo the old Chinese idea that the sky is round and the earth is square. Stay until dusk, when both buildings light up.

The story

Beijing became the first city to host both the Summer and the Winter Olympics, and the Bird's Nest staged the opening and closing ceremonies of both Games. For 2022 the Water Cube, where 25 world records fell in 2008, was fitted with ice-making equipment so that it could host curling.

What to see at Bird's Nest and Olympic Green

• Bird's Nest (National Stadium) 国家体育场: The steel-lattice stadium opened in 2008 and hosts concerts and big events. Walk around the outside to see how the tangle of beams forms both frame and roof.
• Water Cube (National Aquatics Centre) 国家游泳中心: The bubble-skinned swimming hall next door glows blue after dark.
• Dragon-shaped water system and the central axis 龙形水系和中轴线: A 2.7-kilometre artificial stream and a 3.7-kilometre paved avenue extend Beijing's central axis north, with gardens and tree-lined squares between the two.
• Olympic Tower 奥林匹克塔: A 248.6-metre tower completed in 2015 near the north end of the central axis, with an observation deck for views of the park.
• Olympic Forest Park 奥林匹克森林公园: North of the venues, the axis ends in a landscaped park with a lake, Aohai, and a man-made hill, Yangshan.

How to visit Bird's Nest and Olympic Green

Begin at the venues in the south, stroll the central avenue north past the water system to the Olympic Tower, and, if you have energy, go on into the Forest Park. The plaza is best in the late afternoon, when the buildings light up. Allow 2–3 hours for the venues alone, more for the forest park.

How to get to Bird's Nest and Olympic Green

Take Metro Line 8 to Olympic Sports Center, just south of the two venues, or Line 8 or 15 to Olympic Park at the north end; a taxi from central Beijing takes about 30–40 minutes, depending on traffic.

Where to stay

The Olympic area and nearby Asian Games Village in Chaoyang have modern hotels and direct metro access, and put you within reach of both the Bird's Nest and Beijing's northern axis.

What to eat

• Peking roast duck (Běijīng kǎoyā) 北京烤鸭: Beijing's signature dish, served with thin pancakes and sweet bean sauce, is widely available in the malls and restaurants around the park.
• Beijing fried-sauce noodles (zhájiàng miàn) 炸酱面: Wheat noodles with a savoury bean-paste sauce and fresh vegetables, the everyday Beijing lunch.

Tips for visiting Bird's Nest and Olympic Green

• The plaza is open to walk around, but going inside the Bird's Nest needs a ticket, and stadium visits are cut short on concert and event days, so check its notices first.
• Inside the Bird's Nest, a lift and stairs lead up to the stadium roof for views over the Olympic Green; check which ticket includes it.

Nearby

• Temple of Confucius and Imperial Academy 孔庙和国子监 under 10 km
  Courtyards of stone steles naming imperial exam graduates, beside the old Imperial Academy
• Lama Temple 雍和宫 under 10 km
  Incense-filled courtyards and an 18-metre sandalwood Buddha in a working monastery
• Drum and Bell Towers 钟鼓楼 under 10 km
  Beijing's old timekeeping towers, with drum performances and views over the hutong roofs
• Shichahai 什刹海 under 10 km
  Three linked lakes ringed by hutongs and lakeside bars, with open-air skating in winter
• Prince Gong's Mansion 恭王府 under 10 km
  A Qing courtyard mansion and rock garden, home first to a corrupt minister, then a prince
• Beihai Park 北海公园 under 10 km
  A former imperial lake garden crowned by a white Tibetan-style stupa on its island

Also within 30 km: Yuan Dadu City Wall Ruins Park 元大都城垣遗址公园 (under 10 km), Xihuang Temple 西黄寺 (under 10 km), Temple of Earth 地坛 (under 10 km), Deshengmen Arrow Tower 德胜门箭楼 (under 10 km), Former Residence of Soong Ching-ling 宋庆龄故居 (under 10 km), Bailin Temple 柏林寺 (under 10 km).

On the map

Open Bird's Nest and Olympic Green on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Learn more

• Wikipedia
• Wikipedia (Chinese)