Parque Olímpico

Olympic Park is the vast green and civic district built at the northern end of Beijing's central axis for the 2008 Summer Olympics, and it remains one of the city's most popular places for a modern day out. Designed around the themes of technology, greenery, and humanity, it brings together sports venues, parkland, offices, hotels, and cultural spaces into a spacious new quarter of the city. For travelers who want to see contemporary Beijing rather than its imperial past, it is an essential stop.

The park is best known for the landmark venues clustered here, above all the Bird's Nest National Stadium and the Water Cube aquatics center, whose striking forms are especially memorable when illuminated at night. To the north stretches the Olympic Forest Park, a large landscaped expanse of hills, water, and woodland created as a green lung for the city, with features such as the man-made Yangshan hill and the Aohai lake. Wide plazas, public art, and long walking and cycling paths make the whole area feel open and relaxed, and much of the parkland is free to enter and enjoy.

Because it is so spacious, this is a place for strolling, cycling, and taking in the architecture rather than ticking off a fixed list of sights, and you can easily spend a few hours here. Evenings are a favorite time, when the venues light up and the plazas fill with local families, kite-flyers, and people out for a walk. Spring and autumn are ideal for exploring the forest park on foot or by rental bike, while the open exposure means sun protection in summer and warm layers in winter are wise.

Olympic Park sits in the north of Beijing and groups naturally with the nearby China Science and Technology Museum and other modern attractions, making a good half-day itinerary focused on contemporary Beijing. It offers a completely different mood from the palaces and temples downtown, spacious, green, and forward-looking, and it is especially enjoyable for families and anyone who likes to combine sightseeing with a long, easy walk. As a symbol of the city's modern face, it is a fitting counterpoint to the ancient landmarks elsewhere on your trip.