subject: Water Cube - Bubble Struck [print this page] China is a country whose influence reaches far beyond that of its geographical borders. Known for its pioneering feats on an endless list that includes education, architecture, cuisine, inventions, etc. the country remains just as influential today.
Fondly referred to as the Water Cube, the National Aquatics Center in Beijing is a popular modern tourist attraction. The National Aquatic Center can be reached from all four main entries of the Olympic Green and is only 300 meters from Subway Line 8 or Olympic Green Station.
Built especially for the 2008 Olympics this impressive monument strongly resembles a water cube as its nickname implies. The building however is rectangular and not a cube. The interior houses a facility for swimming, synchronized swimming and diving. The Water Cube can seat around 17 000 people and is built near the main stadium in the Olympic Green Precinct.
Apart from being a revolutionary structure, it is a place where history was made; with swimmers breaking 25 world records during the 2008 Olympics. The rectangular design was created to be in harmony with the Birds Nest, the main Olympic stadium, and simultaneously be more in line with Chinese architecture design. The appearance of bubbles is intended to symbolize water. The Olympic pool is 1 meter more deep that normal Olympic pools and hence considered to be the fasted swimming pool. At night time it looks surreal like something from a sci-fi movie with the courtyard having ambient lighting to compliment the bluish water cube. Interestingly, the great architectural achievement owes its magnificence to a theory known as the Weaire-Phelan structure ton which the designers based the "bubbles" structural concept.
If your are looking for a place to stay and rest and relax while not moving out of Beijing, try the Traders Upper East Hotel that is modern and contemporary in design with many comfortable room and suites. Its the ideal hotel in Beijing for corporate travelers, as it is located in a business hub of the Wang Jing Business Zone and Third Embassy District in Beijing. This hotel Beijing has all facilities and services necessary for holding meeting and banquet events.
