The 2008 Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony was held at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, located in Beijing's Olympic Green. The stadium, designed by Herzog & de Meuron Design Office and China Architecture Design & Research Group, seats 91,000 people and used 45,000 tons of steel in its framework. It features a 20 meter diameter elevating platform that can rise 11.4 meters high to serve as a stage for the ceremony.

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

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

3. 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.