Rating: AAAAA
Key Words: Spring Outing, Theme Park, Landscape,
Beijing Olympic Park, located in Chaoyang District, Beijing and at the north end of the axis of Beijing, stretches up to the south bank of Qinghe River in the north, to Beitucheng.
Description
The Olympic Green, situated at the northern end of the central axis of Beijing City, is an Olympic Park in Chaoyang District. It extends to the southern bank of the Qinghe River in the north, North Tucheng Road in the south, Anli Road and Beichen East Road on the east, and Lincui Road and Beichen West Road on the west. The Olympic Park was the main venue for the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It accommodates 44% of the Olympic competition venues and most facilities for the Olympics. The Olympic Park has the largest Olympic venue cluster in history. It covers an area of 11.59 square kilometers and is composed of the Olympic Forest Park in the north, the Olympic venue cluster in the center and the Asian Games venue cluster in the south.
Beijing is the epitome of Chinese culture, and the Olympic Park is an extension of the traditional central axis of Beijing. Therefore, the park symbolizes the continuation of China’s several thousand-year history and culture, embodying the three concepts of green, science, and culture. With Olympic venues and various supporting facilities, the Olympic Park incorporates sports competitions, conventions and exhibitions, cultural entertainment, and leisure shopping. Embracing large open space, greenbelts and beautiful environment, the park serves as a public activity center which can provide versatile services. The Olympic Park presents the world a unique cultural landscape, including a dragon-shaped water system, an assortment of sculptures, well-designed floral motifs and lampposts, etc. The sunken garden, at the depth of nine meters underground, combines traditional elements such as ancient Chinese imperial palace gates with modern architecture, creating an artistic conception of space and time of both the ancient and modern.
The Central Section - Bird's Nest and Water Cube
As the primary section of the Olympic Park, this section has many important venues and landmark structures. In the northwestern corner, there is the Olympic Village, while in the southern part, you can see the National Stadium (Bird's Nest),
Aquatics Center (Water Cube), Convention Center, Indoor Stadium, and the China Science and Technology Museum. Traveling in this section, you can still feel the spirit of competition and friendliness.
With an overall height of 433 feet (132 meters), Ling Long Tower is the highest building in the Olympic Park and functioned as the International Broadcasting Corporation during the games. When night falls, it looks extremely charming with colored lights changing alternatively. To the south of Ling Long Tower lies the National Stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Games were held. As the centerpiece of this park, the stadium covers an area of 2,195,838 square feet (204,000 square meters) and can hold 91,000 people. It takes the shape of a bird's nest, which resembles a cradle for breeding lives, symbolizing mankind's hope for the future. The unique structure of Bird's Nest is of great value both in terms of art and architecture.
Not far from the Bird's Nest, there is the National Aquatics Center, also known as Water Cube. Its creative design concept is originated from the arrangement pattern of cells and natural structure of soap bubbles. The huge square box was produced by combining modern technologies with traditional Chinese culture. In the past, Chinese ancestors believed that the sky is round while the earth is square, and that is the way nature keeps harmonious. The square Water Cube together with the round Bird's Nest, embody and interpret this idea very well.
The Northern Section -Olympic Forest Park
Located in the north of Kehui Road, the Forest Park is seen as the terminal point of Beijing's central axis. It is divided by the Fifth Ring Road into two zones, the Southern Garden and the Northern Garden. The Southern Garden is characterized by a grand artificial landscape with the Aohai Sea and Yangshan Mountain built with traditional technologies of classical garden construction. In contrast, the Northern Garden with vast vegetation is more close to nature. An expressway that crosses over the Fifth Ring Road makes an ecological corridor between the two districts.
Outside the south gate of the forest park, the Sightseeing Tower is erected. As the 6th tallest sightseeing tower in China, it is composed of five independent towers, among which the highest is 810 feet (246.8 meters) in height. The five towers are built on steel frameworks and arranged orderly in the pattern of the five Olympic rings. From a distance, the towers look like nails, hence the nickname Giant Nails. Visitors can have a bird's eye view of the whole park from the top of the tower.
The Southern Section - Former Sports Center and China Ethnic Culture Park
As the former National Olympic Sports Center, all the venues within this section were used for the 1990 Asian Games, including the stadium, gymnasium, and Yingdong Natatorium. Besides the Sports Center, there is the China Ethnic Culture Park (China Ethnic Museum). It collects and displays cultural relics of the 56 ethnic groups of China. Visitors can learn more about ethnic culture and spend a fine day taking part in the diverse festivals. In addition to these venues and the museum, there is a parcel of land that is to be developed into cultural and business districts in the future.
With novel design concepts, magnificent landmark buildings, and splendid natural landscapes, the Olympic Park successfully integrates sport with nature, providing a model for the mutual development of man and nature.
Venues
Beijing National Stadium
The Beijing National Stadium(国家体育场) or "Bird's Nest" (鸟巢) is the centerpiece of this project. It hosted the opening and closing ceremonies, athletics, and football finals of the Games. The stadium has room for 91,000 spectators, but the capacity was reduced to 80,000 after the Olympics.It will be the site of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Today, the Bird’s Nest becomes a popular tourism destination. When visiting Beijing, it might be embarrassing not posting a photo of the Bird’s Nest in your WeChat moment. With dazzling lights, Bird’s Nest in the night is extraordinarily gorgeous.
Beijing National Aquatics Center
The Beijing National Aquatics Center(国家游泳中心) or "Water Cube" (水立方) hosted the swimming, diving and synchronized swimming events. It has a capacity of 6,000 (17,000 during the 2008 Olympics)and is located next to the National Stadium. It will be the site of the curling competitions during the 2022 Winter Olympics.
The night view of the Water Cube is absolutely beautiful, attracting countless people to come and take photos!
Beijing National Indoor Stadium
The Beijing National Indoor Stadium(国家体育馆) or "the Fan" held the handball, artistic gymnastics and trampolining events. With a capacity of 19,000, it was the main indoor arena used during the Games.
National Speed Skating Oval
The National Speed Skating Oval is an arena that will be built for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Olympic Green Convention Center
The Olympic Green Convention Center, also called the National Convention Center(国家会议中心), held fencing and, the shooting and fencing disciplines of the modern pentathlon. It is also used as the International Broadcast Center and the Main Press Center (for conventions and exhibitions). The center covers an area of 270,000 square meters.
Olympic Green Hockey Field
The Olympic Green Hockey Field hosted the field hockey events. It covered an area of 11.87 hectares (29.3 acres) with 2 courts and could seat 17,000 spectators. It was deconstructed after the Games.
Olympic Green Archery Field
The Olympic Green Archery Field hosted the archery events. The field occupied 9.22 hectares (22.8 acres) and had a capacity of 5,000. It was dismantled after the Games.
Olympic Green Tennis Center
The Olympic Green Tennis Center (北京奥林匹克公园网球场) hosted the tennis and wheelchair tennis events. It has 16 courts (10 competition, 6 practice) and a capacity of 17,400. It opened on October 1, 2007.
Promenade
The park itself, outside of the venues constructed on the Olympic Green, hosted some of the athletic events at the 2008 Games. These included the racewalk events, where the loops occurred on the Olympic Green, and the portion of the marathons just outside the National Stadium.
Beijing Olympic Tower
Completed and opened in 2014, the 246.8-metre-tall (810 ft) Beijing Olympic Tower's five circular roofs are meant to evoke the Olympic rings; although it has also been described as "a huge nail". The design of the towers themselves were inspired by blades of grass. It is the sixth tallest observation tower in China and the 22nd highest in the world. Visitors can look out over the park and the entire city of Beijing from all five platforms, ranging from 186 to 243 metres (610 to 797 ft) in height.
During major festivals, there will be light shows on the Olympic Tower. As the Water Cube, the Bird’s Nest and the Olympic Tower are very close to each other, you can visit the three of them at once!
How to get to the Olympic Park
By Subway:
1. Take Subway Line 8 and get off at Lincuiqiao, Senlin Gongyuan Nanmen (Forest Park South Gate), Aolin Pike Gongyuan (Olympic Park), Aoti Zhongxin (Olympic Sports Center) or Beitucheng Station. (Note: Lincuiqiao Station is close to the west gate of the Olympic Forest Park and Beitucheng Station is near the China Ethnic Culture Park.)
2. Take Subway Line 15 and get off at Aolin Pike Gongyuan Station.
3. Take Subway Line 10 and get off at Beitucheng Station.
By Bus:
1. Take bus 82, 419, 538, or 645 and get off at Guojia Tiyuchang Dong (Bird's Nest) Station.
2. Take bus 81, 82, 86, 510, 607 or Special Line 13 or 15 and get off at Guojia Tiyuguan (National Indoor Stadium) Station.
3. Take bus 81, 379, 510 or Special Line 44 and get off at Subway Lincuiqiao Station or Aolin Chuntian Xiaoqu Station to go to the Forest Park. Enter from the west gate of the Northern Garden of the Forest Park.
