Still having plenty of daylight left, we headed on to the Olympic Green –
the venue of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The vast complex is really
grandeur. Spanning about 2,800 acres, the iconic structures which identify the
place really stood out. Also, the wide open spaces can surely fit in thousands
of patrons at any given time. A really nice place to explore!
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| Bird's Nest in daylight |
The commute towards here is relatively easy. We just hopped on the
subway, transferred a few lines, and a few minutes later got to the Olympic
Sports Center station.
Emerging from the station, we encountered so many people. Who would have
thought that the crowds who visit the place are still aplenty after 5 years? Moving
into the park proper, we were all at awe. The scene is just like in the
television broadcasts of the games! Up close, the structures were truly fantastic
– most especially the National Stadium more commonly known as the Bird’s Nest. This
enormous stadium is where most of the games were held. In addition, it was the
venue for both the opening and closing ceremonies for the Beijing Olympics.
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| National Stadium entrance |
The clear blue skies above proved to be a beautiful backdrop too. Simply
breathtaking!
We took a lot of photos here since we enjoyed the views so much. The only
challenge we faced is finding a good spot where there aren’t that many people
swarming around your back.
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| kite flying |
There were also many merchants peddling good here – from children’s toys
to Olympic memorabilia to food and drinks. A friend of mine got herself a long
string of kites imprinted with the Beijing Olympic mascots. We had fun flying
it since the winds were really strong that sunny spring day. Got some nice
shots while kite flying at the side of the Bird’s Nest.
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| kite flying with the Bird's Nest as backdrop |
The next one we went to in this complex is the National Aquatic Center.
Also known as the Water Cube, this facility served as the venue for all water
related sports during the games. It was really nice to see how this building
was made from up close.
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| Water Cube at night |
Walking towards the edge of the complex, we reached the LingLong Tower
with its multi-colored lights already brightly shining. This structure served
as the main broadcasting tower during the games where the media telecast their
coverage. Standing at 132 meters, this structure is also the tallest one here
at the complex.
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| golden LingLong tower |
As it was nighttime when we finished exploring the whole place, all the
popular facilities lit up really nicely. Everything still looked pretty awesome
at night! The vibe each one gives is quite different as well. Just let the
photos do most of the explaining.
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| National Sports Center at night |
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| Bird's Nest at night |
Our visit here was really a great experience. Though we did not enter
each of the facilities, taking everything in from the outside was definitely
enough to awaken the Olympic spirit from 5 years back. A must see attraction I
must say for all those who are planning to visit Beijing. It’s something not to
miss!
How to get here:
Take Line 8 of the subway network and alight at Olympic Green Station. Alternatively, you can alight at Olympic Sports Center.
What are your thoughts on Beijing's Olympic Green? Did this post make you want to go and visit it too? Tell me about it by commenting below or using the Contact button on the right.
If you have some questions, feel free to ask. I’ll try my best to help you out.
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