Beijing Top 10 Contemporary Buildings Self Guided Tour
Exploring the ancient part of Beijing is a must for your Beijing trip including Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Hutong and many more. It is a part of a government plan to redevelop central Beijing with innovative and functional architecture, while preserving historic buildings at the same time. So when visiting Beijing, especially if it's your first time, there are a few of jaw-dropping architectures you should include in your itinerary and experience appreciate this modern cosmopolitan city. Many of the attention-getting architecture buildings are mainly focused on surrealism, avant-garde style and postmodernism.
National Center for Performing Arts
Situated west of the Beijing's central Tiananmen Square, National Center for Performing Arts has a huge glass and titanium dome-shaped structure surrounded by water. The egg-shaped theatre is designed by the French architect Paul Andreu, the designer of the terminal of the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. The new National Theater is composed of the three halls nestled inside the egg holding 6,000 people. With its modernity, it is in the strong contrast to the Stalinist-style building of the Great Hall of the People and the golden eaves of the Forbidden City. Open Hours: 9:00 - 17:00 (closed on Monday)
Admission: CNY30( adults); CNY15 (children)
Tel: 0086-010-6655 0989; 0086-010-6655 0000 (ticket booking)
How to get there:
Bus 1, 4, 10, 20, 37, 52, 726, 728 and 802 to Tian'anmen West;
Subway Line 1 and get off at Tiananmen West Station, Exit C.
How to visit National Center for Performing Arts
The New China Central Television ( CCTV ) Tower
Located in Beijing's Central Business District (CBD), Chaoyang District, the new landmark comprises of two L-shaped high-rise towers connected at the top and the bottom at an angle to form a loop. Described as a 'Z' criss-cross, the looped tower is ofen dubbed as"a twisted doughnut" or "'the pants". The CCTV tower employs 10,000 people and allows China State Television to broadcast some 200 channels. Ove Arup & Partners (Arup) (East Asia and European divisions) are the civil engineering contractors. They are responsible for structural and mechanical engineering of the structure. Open Hours: Not yet open to the public.
Getting there:
Subway Line 1 and get off at Guomao Station,
Bus No. 402, 405, 107, 421.
New China Central Television ( CCTV ) Tower
Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital Airport
The construction of Terminal 3 of Beijing International Airport startes on March 28, 2004, and it went into operation on March 26, 2008. Many airlines like Air China, Shanghai Airlines, other Star Alliance members and other international airlines entered the new terminal. Designed by Netherlands Airport Consultants B.V. (NACO) and UK Architect Norman Foster, Terminal 3 of Beijing capital airport is one of the world's most environmentally sustainable airport architectures, aimed to accommodate Beijing's cold winters, hot summers, short autumn and spring seasons. It is composed of three main passenger terminals (Terminal 3A, 3B and 3C) and two satellite concourses (Terminal 3D and Terminal 3E).How to get there:
Take airport shuttle bus or airport express train
Terminal 3 of International Departure
Beijing South Railway Station
Construction of the Beijing South Railway Station started in June. On August 1, 2008, the station was put into use and now serves as the terminal for the inter-city express rail between Beijing and Tianjin, and highspeed and bullet trains to Shanghai, Xian and more cities. The South Railway Station is the second largest in Beijing just after Beijing West Railway Station. It has 13 platforms and 24 arrival and departure lines, and consists of two floors above ground and three floors underground. Add: Yongdingmenwai Dajie, Chongwen District
Tel: 51867999
Transportation:
Subway Line 04 and get off at the stop of Beijing South Railway Station.
Bus: Bus 300 and 458,
Beijing South Railway Station
Arrival Hall of Beijing South Railway Station
Departure Hall of Beijing South Railway Station
Capital Museum
The new Capital Museum, approved by Beijing Municipal Government in 1999, further approved by the State Council after being submitted by the National Development and Reform Commission in 2001, finally commenced its construction in December 2001.After nearly four years construction, the new Capital Museum reopened in May 2006 at a cost of 1.23 billion yuan (about 187 million U.S. dollars). Beijing Capital Museum is the second largest museum in Beijing just after National Museum.Open Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (Closed on Monday)
Admission: free (booking needed)
Phone Booking: 0086-010-6339 3339 between 9:00-17:00
Online booking at http://en.capitalmuseum.org.cn/Visiting/Online_reservation.htm
Getting there:
Bus No. 1, 4, 37, 52 and get off at Gonghuidalou; No. 26, 319, 650, 708, 717, 727, 937 and get off at Baiyunlu;
Subway Line 1 and get off at Muxidi Station.
Capital Museum
National Library (second phase)
A brand-new extension of China's National Library opened on September 9, 2007. Designed by a German architectural firm, the modern library is the world's biggest Chinese literature collection center and digital resource base, as well as the most advanced network service base in China. Located in southern Haidian District and covering an area of 80,538 square meters, the new library can seat 2,900 readers and accept 8,000 visitors a day. The new addition makes the total construction area of the National Library over 250,000 square meters, ranking third in the world, only behind the U.S. Library of Congress and the Russian State Library.Open Hours: 9:00 to 21:00 (Monday to Friday); 9:00 to 17:00 (Saturday and Sunday)
Tel: 0086-010-8854 5426; 0086-010-8854 5360
Web: http://www.nlc.gov.cn/newen/
Getting there
Bus No. 86, 319, 320, 332, 563, 645, 653, 689, 695, 697, 717, 808 and 814;
Subway Line 4 and get off at National Library Station.
The National Stadium (Bird's nest)
Situted at the Olympic Green, it has a floor space of 258,000 sq meters. The National Stadium in Beijing is the main stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games. It is often dubbed the "bird's nest" because of its featuring grid formation. The twig-like structure and the bowl-shaped roof are the masterpiece of the project. It is designed by Herzog and DeMeuron. The most unique feature of the structure is its "cushion" system which can fill the spaces within the building's facade to regulate wind, weather, and sunlight. It can accommodate 91,000 visitors and hosted the opening and closing ceremonies, the track and field competitions and the football finals during the 2008 Olympic Games. Open Hours: 9:00 to 18:00
Admission: CNY50; CNY25 for students
Getting there:
Bus 386, 656, 660, 689, 696, 740, 753, 939, 944 or 983 and get off at Yayuncun Stop;
Subway Line 8 and get off at Olympic Sports Center Station, Exit B2
How to visit Bird’s Nest and Water Cube
The National Swimming Center ( Water Cube )
Located just to the west of the Birs' Nest, designed by the design consortium composed of the China State Construction Engineering Corporation, China State Construction International (Shenzhen) Design Co Ltd, PTW Architects (Australia) and Ove Arup (Australia). The National Swimming Center will be the only important Olympic venue that is built by donations from compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao. It has a total floor space of 50,000 square meters with a seating capacity of 17,000. The whole project costs about US$100 million. The center was used for swimming, diving, synchronized swimming and water-polo games during the Olympic Games 2008. After the games, the center will turn into a large water recreational center open to the public. It is dubbed "cube" because of its semi-transparent "bubbles" spread out all over its surface with a shape very similar to the structure of "H2O. Open Hours: 9:00 to 21:00
Admission: CNY30 for adults; CNY15 for students
Getting there:
Bus 386, 656, 660, 689, 740, 753, 804, 827, 939, 944 or 983 and get off at Beichenqiaoxi Stop;
Subway Line 8 and get off at Olympic Sports Center Station, Exit B1.
How to visit Bird’s Nest and Water Cube
The New Poly Plaza
It is an office building which is located at the southwestern corner of Dongsishitiao Bridge, directly facing the older Poly Plaza. It occupies an area of up to 10,600 square meters with the 27-storey building. It is designed by SOM of the United States. New Poly Plaza has the world's largest flexible cable glass curtain wall and Beijing's highest skyscraping atrium. It is reputed as a masterpiece in the world. The plaza is up to the world's advanced level as an office building in the respect of internal functions. Add: 14 Nandajie, Dongzhimen, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Subway: Subway line 2 and get off at the station of Dongzhimen and exit D
Buses: 44,800,820, Te2,858
Beijing Linked Hybrid
Also known as MOMA Phase 2, located adjacent to the north-east corner of old city wall of Beijing. The complex is designed by American architect Steven Holl. It is selected by Time magazine as one of ten best new architectural marvels. It is an ultra-modern expression of 21st.Century ecological urban living. The eight towers are linked at the twentieth floor by a ring of cafes and services. The encircled towers express a collective aspiration; rather than towers as isolated objects or private islands in an increasingly privatized city. Add: Xibahe South Road, Beijing
Subway: Line 2 and get off at Dongzhimen Station and Exit B.
Questions & Answers:
Here is only for Questions and Answers. ( For anyone who wants to have an enquiry or customized tour, please email us to 
. )
