The Olympic Superstars: What Happened to the Bird's Nest and Water Cube?
They were the iconic stages for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, bold architectural statements that announced China's grand arrival on the world stage. But what happens to magnificent, purpose-built stadiums after the Olympic flame goes out and the crowds go home? In Beijing, they have taken on a fascinating second life. A visit to the Olympic Green today is a chance to walk among these modern architectural legends.
You’ll be struck first by the sheer complexity of the National Stadium, nicknamed the "Bird's Nest." Its incredible structure of interwoven steel beams looks less like a building and more like a colossal piece of sculpture. Across the plaza, the National Aquatics Center, or "Water Cube," glows with an ethereal, bubbly blue light. Its revolutionary design was based on the natural formation of soap bubbles. Today, a large part of its interior has been transformed into a massive, wildly popular indoor water park, a place of joy and laughter.
Insider Tip:
The best time to visit the Olympic Green is in the early evening. The daytime crowds have thinned, and as dusk falls, the venues are illuminated in vibrant colors—fiery red for the Bird's Nest and a cool blue for the Water Cube. It makes for stunning photographs and a much more atmospheric experience.
