Our visit to Beijing wasn't going to be complete without a trip to the venue of the 2008 summer Olympics held in China.  We just had to see the much talked about Bird's Nest where the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies took place.  Not wanting to go during the peak hour travel period on the Beijing subway, we decided to go there at night time and see the place lit up.  We were not disappointed.

After seeing the Beijing National Stadium, I couldn't help but think everything in Beijing was huge. It is said that this Olympic Park was built at a whopping price tag of $40 billion.

The Olympic Symbol

The Olympic Symbol and Torch

The monument of the Olympic Torch.  Now this was tall, very tall.

Chinese Zodiac Animals at the Olympic Venue in Beijing all lit up at night

I wondered why these were here at the time of our visit.  It must have been because 2012 had just arrived.

A distant view of the Beijing National Stadium more popularly known as the Bird's Nest.  This building was the venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Summer Games

This building is oblong in shape and is made up of interlocking steel grids closely resembling the twigs and branches of, you guess it, a bird's nest.

Isn't it beautiful?

Marc in front of the Bird's Nest

Right next to the Bird's Nest was the National Aquatics Center also known as the Water Cube

The Water Cube

The National Aquatics Center  or Water Cube up close

An even closer view of the Water Cube