The Bird's Nest: A monument of the Olympics, a symbol of modern Beijing

Exterior view of the Bird's Nest

As the main competition venue for the upcoming Beijing Olympics, the National Stadium, widely known as the Bird's Nest due to its unique and grand steel structure, has become a nationwide sensation. It will host the Opening and Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games, the Olympic Athletic events and the final of the Olympic Football tournament.

A Bird's Nest-shaped light installed on the lawn in front of the stadium.

Built with a record-breaking 50,000 tons of steel, the stadium was named one of the world's top ten construction feats in 2007 and is set to become a landmark competition venue and a longstanding symbol of the Olympics.