There are always new travel options in Beijing. You can cycle through Beijing Olympic Park to discover landmarks and dazzling light shows, or explore the three major cultural venues in Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (BMC) for various cultural activities such as premium performances and exhibitions.

Beijing Olympic Park

Located at the northern end of the northern extension of Beijing's Central Axis, Beijing Olympic Park is so far the world's only venue to host both Summer and Winter Olympic Games. It houses many well-known Olympic stadiums such as the Bird's Nest (National Stadium), the Water Cube (National Aquatics Center, also known as the "Ice Cube"), and the Ice Ribbon (National Speed Skating Oval). 

Beijing Olympic Park has recently introduced a 7.5-kilometer cycling route that offers a 24-minute journey. The route connects the China National Convention Center, China National Arts and Crafts Museum, Museum of the Communist Party of China, Digital Beijing Building, and National Indoor Stadium, along which cyclists can enjoy the beautiful views of the Bird's Nest, the Water Cube, the Olympic Central Square and other major Olympic venues without entering the core area of the park.

The 2024 Beijing Chaoyang International Light Festival kicked off on October 18 with an array of sub-events at the Olympic Central Area, including tower shows, interactive illumination installations, light art exhibitions, and a cultural bazaar. Here you can embark on an amazing journey of lights and shadows.

Three Major Cultural Buildings in BMC

The three major cultural buildings in BMC—Beijing Performing Arts Centre, Beijing Library, and the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing—have already become popular travel choices, especially among netizens.

Beijing Performing Arts Centre, situated on the bank of the millennia-old Grand Canal, is known as a "cultural granary" due to its distinctive design resembling an ancient granary. The venue will soon present productions including the Peking Opera Legend of the White Snake by the National Centre for the Performing Arts.

Beijing Library welcomes visitors with its luminous architectural design and offers themed reading activities on art appreciation and urban life. Recently, the library will host events such as "The Art of Printing: A Peek in China Printing Museum".

The design of the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing was inspired by three elements in the ancient paintings about the canal, namely ships, sails, and water. Viewed from afar, the five dynamic sail-shaped roofs appear staggered. A number of exhibitions including "Scroll of Landscapes of Beijing Grand Canal" are on display. Be sure to catch them.

(Source: Official WeChat account of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism)