The Bird’s Nest
The National Stadium, or “Bird’s Nest”, built specifically for the Olympic Games, has become one of Beijing’s best-known landmarks, attracting more than 30 million tourists since its opening. The venue continues to be used for national and international competitions.
The Bird’s Nest was created to host the track-and-field competitions as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games. Located in the Olympic Park, it was designed by the famous Swiss architects, Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron. The use of a steel structure gives the building the appearance and shape of a bird’s nest. In 2009, it won the prestigious Lubetkin Prize, an international award given to the most outstanding work of architecture outside Europe.
Currently, the stadium is managed by a joint company composed of a government representative, BSAM Beijing State-owned Assets Management Co. Ltd, and a privately- owned company called the China International Trust and Investments Corporation. The stadium is scheduled to be used for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.