My Beijinger Journey: Olympic Park Booms and Night Walk
It is no question that Beijing is rich in history and has ancient architectural buildings and monuments. Equally could be said of its modern design too and the shining example would be the catchy Bird Nest Stadium. A visit to the Olympic Park is surely a must when in Beijing, after the grandeur of the opening ceremony of the Olympics Games showcased magnificently in 2008. Opening ceremony of the Games would never be the same anymore.
I visited the Olympic Park twice. It is free admission. Once during the day and another at night. If you have to choose one time to visit, visit at night. During the day, the Bird Nest Stadium and the Water Cube nearby looked rather ordinary, of course not considering the engineering aspects and the symbolic elements of both structures. But by night, i was visually impressed, fascinated and amazed at how these structures, when sunsets, came alive.
Reaching the Olympic Park was easy. Use the Subway to Olympic Station or Olympic Green Station, the Park is located between the two. What could i see? Of course, the Bird Nest Stadium, the Water Cube, the Olympic Torch, the Pagoda, the Olympic Tower in the distance, and other sculptures around the park.
With the symbolic 5 rings of the Olympic Games.
I visited the Olympic Park twice. It is free admission. Once during the day and another at night. If you have to choose one time to visit, visit at night. During the day, the Bird Nest Stadium and the Water Cube nearby looked rather ordinary, of course not considering the engineering aspects and the symbolic elements of both structures. But by night, i was visually impressed, fascinated and amazed at how these structures, when sunsets, came alive.
It is also a park. A bird's nest in the park?
Reaching the Olympic Park was easy. Use the Subway to Olympic Station or Olympic Green Station, the Park is located between the two. What could i see? Of course, the Bird Nest Stadium, the Water Cube, the Olympic Torch, the Pagoda, the Olympic Tower in the distance, and other sculptures around the park.
With the Pagoda and holding the Olympic Tower.
One of the sculptures.
By day...
Wowed by night...
Under the round moon. Egg in the bird nest?
Waited for the Pagoda to change colours to produce this collage.
Olympic Torch in firey glory at night!
Silver-grey by day and mostly blue by night, i was lucky to have waited for the Water Cube to switch its colours. It was like watching a show on the exterior of the Water Cube.
Instead of choosing whether to view during the day or at night, why not be there in the evening to catch the structures in daylight, then wait for twilight, and then at night to catch them lit beautifully. It was worth the wait. I was blown away.
There is a McDonalds near the Olympic Park which looked rather exclusive than usual. I did not enter but i tried other McDonalds outlets around Beijing, hunting for pork in the menu.
There is a McDonalds near the Olympic Park which looked rather exclusive than usual. I did not enter but i tried other McDonalds outlets around Beijing, hunting for pork in the menu.
My dinner for one of the nights. The Taro Yam Pie is delicious. Malaysia should have this flavour.
The beef and bacon burger.
Another highly recommended night walk spot is the National Grand Theater. It was relatively easy to get there by Subway, to Tiananmen West Station and walk towards the Theater. However, do note to take extra care of yourself when walking at night as some streets may be quiet, dark and deserted. If this situation arises, better safety of your life more than anything.
You can also include Tiananmen Square after the National Grand Theater.
You saw the Beijing Railway Station during the day; this is how it looked at night.
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