The 2008 Beijing Olympic
Opening Ceremony
Fact and Figures
Features Four Inventions
of Ancient China

National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest
Olympic Green in Northern Beijing

The Venue
The stadium was jointly designed by Herzog & de Meuron
Design Office, and China Architecture Design & Research
Group and ARUP. Its construction began on Dec. 24, 2003,
and completed on June 30, 2008. Altogether 45,000 tonnes
of steel was used to build its framework.
The stadium's seating capacity is 91,000, including 11,000
temporary seats. The floor space is 258,000 square
meters.