Beijing National Aquatics Center
Centro Acuático Nacional de Beijing
Beijing National Aquatics Center (Tianchen West Road, Chaoyang, Beijing) – this site (a.k.a. the “Water Cube” for its exterior), is located alongside the Beijing National Stadium, is one of the best venues of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, built with donations from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan compatriot and overseas Chinese. It was chosen through public appraisals as one of “China ten big new architecture views” by The U.S. magazine “Business Weekly”.
The venue hosted the swimming, diving and synchronized swimming events during the Olympics, when it saw 21 world records tumbling down for 24 times. For this, it has been reputed as a “magic water cube” and an “Aquatic Hall of Fame”. Nowadays, the “Water Cube” hosts international and domestic competition events, runs a swimming club to promote popular swimming, offers the venue as a resident performing arts theater to cultivate famous brands, holds large-scaled painting and calligraphy exhibitions, and markets Olympic licensed products.
Tours of this venue are conducted for visitors. Price: RMB 30 (adult), RMB 15 (seniors up to 70 years/students/soldiers). Free admission for children below 1.2 meters in height, the disabled and seniors over 70 years. See the Water Cube website for more details: www.water-cube.com