(BEIJING, May 21) -- Outside the North Fourth Ring Road, in the center of the Olympic complex, and alongside the northern extension of Beijing's central axis, there stands the magnificent National Stadium, also called the "Bird's Nest," now busy preparing itself for the upcoming "Good Luck Beijing" China Athletics Open.

Structural elements of the Bird's Nest mutually support each other and converge into a grid-like formation -- almost like an actual bird's nest with its interwoven twigs. The overall design combines both traditional Chinese cultural elements and nature-oriented modern architectural design concepts. Located on a gentle rise in the center of the Olympic complex, the Bird's Nest, together with the nearby Water Cube, represent the traditional Chinese concept of "round heaven and square earth," as well as the "Qiqan-kun" and "Yin-yang" ideas. The sacred flame of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad will be lit up here on August 8, signaling the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

An undulating composition of high and low elevations moderates the bulk of the vessel and gives it a dramatic sweeping form. The design meets all the functional and technical requirements of an Olympic Stadium, without communicating the insistent sameness of technocratic architecture dominated by large spans and digital screens. The spatial effect of the stadium is novel and radical, yet simple and of an almost archaic immediacy, thus creating a unique historical landmark for the 2008 Olympics.

The venue occupies an area of 20.4 hectares, with a floor space of 258,000 square meters. It will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, as well as the track and field competitions and football finals. The main body of the National Stadium is designed to last for 100 years, with first-rate fire resistance capability, and capacity to resist an eight-magnitude earthquake. With

8,0000 fixed seats and 11,000 temporary seats, the Stadium can seat a maximum of 91,000 spectators. After the Olympics, the Stadium will serve as a venue for large-scale sports and entertainment events for Beijing residents.

Ideal Location on the central axis of Beijing

Why is the Bird's Nest located on the northern extension of the central axis of Beijing? Experts say that this is a design meant to embody the beauty of art.

Beijing Olympic planning authorities initially had several options for the location of the Bird's Nest, among which the "Northern Axis" proposal eventually stood out. This is a design scheme intrinsically connected with the layout of old Beijing's urban area, which was symmetrical around its central axis.

With urban development, Beijing's central axis now extends from the North Fourth Ring Road to the North Fifth Ring Road, thanks to the Olympic Games. The central axis now runs through the center of the Olympic complex further northward. Surrounding areas such as Olympic Forest Park, with plenty of natural greenery, forms a "green tail" for the dragon-shaped central axis, reflecting the theme of being "environmental-friendly" for the Olympic Games.