National Aquatics Center in Beijing

National Aquatics Center in Beijing

The Beijing National Aquatics Center is an aquatics center that was built alongside Beijing National Stadium in the Olympic Green for the swimming competitions of the 2008 Summer Olympics. 

English Name: National Aquatics Center
Nickname: The Water Cube
Chinese name:  国家游泳中心, 水立方
Admission Fee:  30 yuan
Opening Hours: 9 am–6 pm
Recommended Visiting Time: 3 or 4 hours
Time needed: 1 hour
Location: It is located in the south of Beijing Olympic Park, next to the Bird’s Nest

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National Aquatics Center

The Beijing National Aquatics Center is an aquatics center that was built alongside Beijing National Stadium in the Olympic Green for the swimming competitions of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Despite its nickname, the building is not an actual cube, but a cuboid (a rectangular box). Ground was broken on December 24, 2003, and the Center was completed and handed over for use on January 28, 2008. Swimmers at the Water Cube broke 25 world records during the 2008 Summer Olympics.

After the 2008 Olympics the building underwent a 200 -million-yuan revamp to turn half of its interior into a water park. The building officially reopened on August 8, 2010. It will host the curling at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Awards

The special award for the most accomplished work in the section Atmosphere is awarded to the Australian architecture firm PTW Architects, CSCEC + Design and Arup for the project National Swimming Centre, Beijing Olympic Green, China. The project demonstrates in a stunning way, how the deliberate morphing of molecular science, architecture, and phenomenology can create an airy and misty atmosphere for a personal experience of water leisure

— Quote from the Jury report of the Official Awards 9th International Architecture Exhibition – METAMORPH, Venice Biennale
  • 2004: Venice Biennale – Award for most accomplished work Atmosphere section
  • 2006: Popular Science Best of what’s new 2006 in engineering
  • 2008: NSW Project of the Year award from the Australian Institute of Project Management
  • 2009: 40th annual MacRobert Award, the UK’s biggest prize for engineering innovation
  • 2010: International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering 2010 Outstanding Structure Award

Ticket Information

For visit only

Ticket Price: CNY 30
CNY 15 for children between 1.2-1.4m (3.9-4.6 feet)
Free for children under 3.9 feet

Opening Hours: 9:00 – 21:00

For swimming & visit

Ticket Price: CNY 60 for two hours

Opening Hours：

Jun. 15-Sep. 14: 09:00-21:00
Sep. 15-Jun.14: 12:30-21:00 from Monday to Friday; 09:00-21:00 at weekends

How to Get There

  • By Bus:
    1. Take bus 81, 82, 510, 607 or Sightseeing Bus 3 and get off at Beichen Xiqiao Bei Station.
    2. Take bus 81, 82, 86, 510, 607, or Special Line 13 or 15 and get off at Guojia Tiyuguan (National Stadium) Station.
    3. Take bus 386, 407, 490, 645, 658, 660, 740, 983, or Fast Transit Line 7, or Yuntong 113 and get off at Beichenqiao Xi Station.
  • By Subway:
    Take Subway line 8 and get off at Aoti Zhongxin (Olympic Sports Center) Station. Get out from Exit B1 and walk north for about 1,000 yards (900m).

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Edited by Winnie/张赢