National Stadium（国家体育场）

 Total investment: 3.15 billion yuan (US$496.56 million)

The National Stadium is a stunning Beijing landmark. It has been nicknamed the "bird's nest" due to the web of twisting steel sections that form its roof. The building was designed by the Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron for use throughout the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. It covers an area of 20.4 hectares, with its tallest point at 69.21 meters.

The stadium has two independent structures, a red concrete seating bowl and the outer steel frame 50 feet away. The steel frame is shaped like a saddle and is an elliptical structure weighing 42,000 tons. The three-level seating can hold up to 91,000 spectators, and the building is considered to be the world's largest enclosed space.

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