Beijing National Stadium Entwined twigs of steel cup this more than $540-million (3.8-billion-yuan) Olympic stadium that has come to be called the "Bird's Nest"--almost as if the new national bird needed a home... Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad
National Museum of China Built in 1959, this museum off Tiananmen Square displays the "national bird of China" on its roof, visible throughout town on buildings being renovated like this one or newly constructed... Dave Biello
China Central Television Headquarters This iconic skyscraper still under construction makes a continuous loop out of two bracketing, leaning towers of glass and steel that connect to form an off-center parallelogram with a gaping hole in the middle... Dave Biello
Forbidden City The imperial palace is getting a paint job for the Olympics--and all the visitors that event is expected to bring. The former residence of the Ming and Qing emperors boasts 980 buildings, many of which are in need of restoration, either to replace rotting wood or to refresh the coatings on their countless intricate designs... Dave Biello
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Beijing National Aquatics Center Known as the "Bubble Building" for its distinctive covering, the translucent plastic encasing this $150-million (1-billion-yuan) building finished in January allows sunlight in for lighting as well as to heat the 7,000 square foot (650 square meter) building and its showcase pool... Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad
Beijing Capital International Airport, Terminal 3 Terminal 3 is the world's largest airport building, according to its architects Foster+Partners of London, covering some 10.6 million square feet (985,000 square meters)--larger than the Pentagon... Steve Zhang
