More Beijing Attractions
More Beijing Attractions
People have their own version of the favorable attractions while traveling Beijing. The 2008 Olympics is around the corner, the visit to the National Stadium (nest) is a must. If you are interested in architecture, then I think you should visit the National Theatre from its outside. The newly finished egg-shaped theatre is designed by the French architect Paul Andreu, the designer of the terminal of the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. The National Grand Theatre, situated west of the Beijing's central Tian'anmen Square, has a huge glass and titanium dome-shaped structure surrounded by water.
The new National Theater is composed of the three halls nestled inside the egg. The 2.68-billion-yuan (US$328 million) theatre will hold 6,000 people. It is regarded as the Egg due to its smooth, translucent exterior and ovoid shape. With its modernity, it is in the strong contrast to the Stalinist-style building of the Great Hall of the People and the golden eaves of the Forbidden City. Over 16,000 cubic metres of water enough to fill 42 Olympic swimming pools is poured into the lake on which the Egg will "float".
