Watching the Paris 2024 Games and your Olympic juices are flowing? Are you a fan of the Olympics or just someone interested in exploring historical sites? Look no further! Beijing is chock-full of must-see locations from the 2008 Olympic Games. Whether you’re a sports enthusiast or just interested in the cultural significance of these sites, there’s something for everyone.
In preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing went all out. Starting as early as 2003, almost $7 billion were spent to construct twelve new sports venues, renovate the airport, expand the subway system, and more to prepare for the games. Beijing’s Olympic Green, also known as Olympic Park, is where many of the new venues were built and is a must-see for sports fans and architecture aficionados alike.
Birds Nest Stadium
One of the most notable locations is the Bird’s Nest Stadium. This magnificent stadium, designed by renowned Swiss architect Jacques Herzog, is now used mainly for football games and concerts. Visitors can take a tour of the stadium, which includes access to the seating bowl, media areas, and even the locker rooms used by the athletes during the Olympics. At night the stadium is lit up magnificently, and as I did below you can get some great photographs with reflections from the nearby bodies of water.
If you’re interested in diving deep into Chinese art and culture, the National Stadium art museum, located inside the Bird’s Nest Stadium, is just the place. This museum hosts a variety of exhibitions ranging from contemporary art to ancient Chinese artifacts.
Aquatics Centre
Another top destination is the Water Cube Aquatics Centre, a beautiful and unique building that was awarded the title of World Building of the Year in 2008. Today, the Water Cube has been turned into a village-style water park, complete with a lazy river and water slides for all ages. One happy traveler says, “it’s a fun place to spend the day, whether you’re with friends or family.” This building is covered with a unique, bubble-like outer membrane, which is particularly impressive at night when it lights up and changes colour.
Olympic Forest Park
Around 2 km to the north of the Bird’s Nest lies Olympic Forest Park, which is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and a popular exercising spot among locals. If you live nearby, you can enjoy a jog or stroll around the park’s many lakes and ponds in the morning or evening.
These are just a few of the amazing Olympic sites you can visit in Beijing. If you’re teaching in China, be sure to add these locations to your Berijing trip itinerary. And if you need any assistance or advice on teaching or living abroad, Teaching Nomad is here to help every step of the way. We strive to provide the best support and guidance to help you make the most out of your adventure in China.
