Thanks to the innovation of Chinese engineers and builders, two venues in particular have use Chinese-made materials in their construction.

Bird's Nest uses 100% Made in China steel

Beijing Urban Construction Group Co., Ltd, the construction contractor for the National Stadium, or the "Bird's Nest," is proud to say that the 110,000 tons of steel used in this venue were 100% Made in China.

The construction group financed the domestic research and production of the Q460 grade plate steel used for the Bird's Nest. The resulting product was 110-mm thick plate steel, surpassing the previous national standard of 100 mm for this type of steel.

The new domestically produced steel can withstand earthquakes, low temperatures and is suitable for welding.

Suspended dome ceiling tops BUT Gymnasium

The Beijing University of Technology (BUT) Gymnasium boasts the world's largest suspended dome ceiling at 93 m in diameter.

Also, the steel used in producing the structure weighs less than 1,200 tons, averaging 60 kg per sq m. According to the university's vice president, Zhang Ailin, this type of structure has resulted in significant savings from steel conservation.

Technological innovation for high-standard venues

The goal of high-standard Olympic venue construction projects has accelerated advancements in technology and production domestically, evident in the technological breakthroughs in steel structure manufacturing.

Chinese engineers and builders have tackled technological difficulties and made up for the gap in experience with their inventiveness, thereby contributing greatly to steel production.