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The National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube, is located on Olympic Green, with the Bird’s Nest Stadium, on Beijing's north-south axis. It was built as the main natatorium for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and became known as one of the Games' iconic structures. This is where American swimmer Michael Phelps got eight medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Come and marvel at the Water Cube and Beijing's other ancient wonders with an Olympic Memories Tour.

The Water Cube was designed by PTW Architects and Ove Arup. Their unique and inspired design was based on the way soap bubbles come together in a 12 or 14-sided cell structure.

The Water Cube is 177 meters square and 30 meters high, and has a capacity of 17,000 seats (6,000 permanent and 11,000 temporary for the Olympics). During the Olympic Games, it was the main venue for swimming, diving, synchronized swimming and water polo. It is now a multi-functional center for sports, recreation and fitness.

Water Amusement Park

After a major transformation after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Water Cube was turned into a large water amusement park and reopened to the public in August 2010.

The new water amusement park inside the Water Cube is the largest and the best of its kind in China, allowing a functional capacity of 6,000 people. It is an ideal place for families with kids to escape the summer heat and have fun. (See our family tour packages). It is equipped with many amusement facilities, such as wave machines, speed slides and aqualoops. The water temperature is said to be controlled at 23°C (73°F) in summer and 30C° (86°F) in winter. Coffee shops, leisure centers and VIP boxes are also available inside the water park.

Travel Essentials

Opening hours: 10:00-21:30 daily

Admission fee:

  • Admission is free for children shorter than 1.2 meters (accompanied by at least one paying adult)
     
  • 30 yuan per ticket (Water Cube visit only)
  • 200 yuan per ticket (including Water Cube visit and water amusement park)
     
  • 160 yuan per ticket (for children 1.2-1.4 m or 3.9-4.6 ft tall, including Water Cube visit and water amusement park)
  • 50 yuan per ticket (swimming only; valid for 2 hours, including locker and shower)

Related Links

  • Beijing Tour Packages
  • China's Festivals and Events
  • Chinese Architecture

Tips & articles

2011-05-23
Overview The Bird's Nest, is also known as the National Stadium in Beijing, it was designed for use throughout the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. Located in the Olympic Green, the $423 million stadium is the world's largest steel structure. The design ...Read More
2011-05-23
Overview Water Cube, also known as the National Aquatics Center, and nicknamed the Water Cube, 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 ...Read More
2011-05-23
Ticket Coupon ticket 100 yuan, 30 yuan of including the bird nest, water cube 30 yuan, 20 yuan of international district of village of 20 yuan of National Indoor Stadium, country Single ticket Bird nest 30 yuan of cube for water of 50 yuan National Indoor ...Read More

forum discussion

Recent posts

by Bambalina 2011-05-23
Located near the Bird s Nest Stadium in the Olympic Green (on the western side of Jingguang Road), the National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube, is a blue, crystal palace, giving the appearance of light-blue bubbles on the outside, perfectly displaying the beauty of water under various light conditions. ? In contrast to the stark lines of the ...
by Takai 2011-05-20
Aisino Corporation held The Night of Aisino New Year Water Cube Concert in the evening of January 20 2009 at the NationalAquaticsCenter or the so-called Water Cube. The Symphony Orchestra of China Opera presented a spectacular performance- Miraculous Water Cube to the audience. The purpose of this concert was to thank all shareholding companies and all other ...
by Elephteria 2011-05-20
Aug 23 - As a volunteer working in the press operations area of the National Aquatics Center, popularly known as the Water Cube, I was granted precious opportunities to explore some of the "restricted areas" that the general public is not allowed to enter. Two particularly interesting areas were the Runway and the Underwater Windows. Standing on the Runway, ...