Home of the 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic Village – Beijing, China
Local Time: December 25, 2008 – 9:00AM
It wasn’t listed on our original itinerary, but we also visited the infamous Bird’s Nest and Water Cube from the 2008 Summer Olympics that was hosted in Beijing, China. These two structures are absolutely breathtaking. The sizes of these structures are massive and sit on a piece of land that faces one and other – which is said to have very good feng shui. The buildings are currently under construction and renovations. I think Beijing intends to fix the facility so that it has a more practical use post-Olympics – unlike Olympic sites of the past that tends to go more towards the neglected side. It’s too bad that our visit was during the day. I wasn’t able to capture the pictures of it at night when the lights are actually on (they turned them on for the holidays), but it’s OK, I got pictures of me being physically be there and that’s all that matters.
Next to the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube is a 7 star (that’s right count them up) hotel – the only one in all of Beijing and possibly this area of China. It consists of 5 separate buildings that when you look at it as whole is in the shape of a dragon. Many of the people who attended the Olympics booked at this hotel despite the cost for its convenience… you are literally within walking distance.
The beauty in the architecture in all of these buildings and facilities are just absolutely amazing and I must say that the Chinese are starting to step up and take their mark in the world in this sense.
