Yesterday visited the National Aquatic Center, also known as Water Cube, where in 2008 the Olympic swimming events took place. Our goal was to swim in the same pool where the Hungarian waterpolo team claimed the Olympic gold. The building has been reopened to the public this July after being under renovation for 10 months.
Visiting the Cube costs 15 CNY, but for 50 CNY you can add swimming to your visit. When purchasing the swimming ticket you learn that the pool is open from 13 to 21. While making your way towards to pool you learn about more regulations and hidden costs. First, you cannot swim in the main pool (where the Olympic competitions took place), but only in the warm-up pool. Then you are required to purchase a swimming cap (34 CNY), without it swimming is not allowed. Finally you are given a choice: either swim in shallow water (0.8-1.2m) or pay an additional 20 CNY to apply for the "deep-water swimmer's certificate" (includes medical examination). We decided to buy one cap (has a Water Cube logo on it, so it can be considered a nice souvenir rather than a hidden cost) and share it while swimming (and walking) in the shallow water. The pool was almost empty. Later it turned out that Biros and co never played in the Water Cube: the water polo events took place in another building.
Spent the rest of the visit sitting by the main pool watching the dancers of Moscow City Ballet practice for their evening performance. That must explain why the banks of the main pool are decorated with fake bushes and garden swans.
The Water Cube building is nothing spectacular inside. Probably was designed to be looked at from the outside, and during the night and from the air. Then it is glowing (in blue) impressively next to the National Stadium (popularly known as The Bird's Nest), which is glowing red and gold.
The square between the main Olympic buildings is huge, much larger than Tian'anmen Square (which our guidebook claims to be the largest in the world).
Around sunset the square got crowded with kite flying people, unfortunately the kind who want to sell their kite to the tourist. The vendors here are very persistent and they only know numbers in English. Learned the Chinese word for "no" (bù yòng ?) and got to practice it a lot.
No comments:
Post a Comment