After successfully hosting the Olympic Games in 2008, the Olympic Park, and especially the Bird’s Nest, has become somewhat of a burden for Beijing’s government; the stadium costs around $11 million a year to maintain.

Since hosting the signature event the Bird’s Nest has intermittently put on events of varying natures, such as major international football friendlies, a performance of the opera Turandot, and the Italian Super Cup in 2009 in an attempt to remain relevant.

In the latest attempt to kick the tires on the old girl, this winter it will play host to a high stakes snowboarding competition, and be transformed into a Disney princess snow castle among other highlights in what is, to date, the most active month for the venue.

Winter at the Bird’s Nest
Source: marko 8904

1) Air & Style Beijing: ‘World Snowboard Challenge’
The First 6 star event of the World Snowboard Tour attracts the world's snowboarding elite to Beijing. Snowboarding’s big names will be competing for the big bucks as the total prize money for all the events is 440,000 USD, with a 10,000 USD bonus for athletes who break any current world record.

The first of 14 worldwide events will feature 19 events, with a total of 232 athletes competing, of whom 93 are from overseas.  This year’s event will feature, amongst others, Japan’s 17 year old rising talent in Big Air and Slopestyle, Yuki Kadono, gold and silver medal winner American Eric Willet and successful Finnish competitive snowboarder Peetu Piiroinen.

Date: Dec 7, 16:00-20:00
Price: 80-380 RMB
Event website: http://www.air-style.com/
Ticket website: tickets

2) Freestyle Aerial World Cup Ski Championships
For many famous aerial skiers, this is the last stop for freestyle Aerial skiing until the Winter Olympics in Sochi next February. Besides the excitement surrounding big names, such as America’s Hannah Kearney, Canada’s Justine Dufour-Lapointe and China’s Xu Mengtao in the women’s competition and Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury and Alex Bilodeau as well as China’s Jia Zongyang in the men’s competition, people are also intrigued to see the competition move from snow-capped mountains into the famous Bird’s Nest.

Although she is currently down for the count due to a leg injury, Chinese aerial champion Li Nina is hoping to be up and ready in time to participate.

When: Dec 21-22, 19:15 onwards
Where: Bird’s Nest
How much: 50, 80, 180, 280, 380, 480, 580 RMB
Tickets: http://www.damai.cn/ticket_58944.html

3) The Fifth Bird’s Nest Ice and Snow Festival
And once all the snowboarding and skiing junkies have left the arena it will be transformed into a delightful Disney Princess themed Ice and Snow Festival. Expect sparkles, candy floss pink and a lot of giggling screams. The shows organizers have focused the activities around seven Disney princesses. Have a look at the list below so you and your kids can decide which order you want to see them. Alongside these seven exhibitions there will also be a cartoon snow castle, ice dance performances, ice bumper cars, a snow ball fight contest, a snow maze, and more. You won’t have to worry about putting your kids to bed, after this exhausting day of sugar and glitter that's for sure.

Seven main exhibitions
The Underwater Mermaid Dream Concert
Cinderella’s Midnight Party
Beauty and the Beast
Snow White Entertainment Area
Tangled Castle
Aladdin’s Lamp Entertainment Area
Sleeping Beauty Photo Exhibition

When: December 2013 – February 2014, Mon – Fri 14:00-20:00, Weekends & Holidays, 10:00-18:00
Where: Bird’s Nest
How much: Free for Children under 1.2 meters; 120 RMB (Adult, Mon-Fri); 160 RMB (Adult, Weekends & Holidays); 60 RMB (Students & Disabled, Mon-Fri); 80 RMB (Students & Disabled, Weekends & Holidays). Ticket prices include the family recreation park, a Northern European style exhibition, sponsers’ exhibition area, an ice-skating event, and three variety shows.
Tickets: www.shuiniaoticket.com

These events thus make the Bird’s Nest an exciting venue to be, regardless of weather conditions or the fact that the 2008 Olympics are long gone. Visiting the venues in the Olympic Park themselves is also a great activity with potential family and friends visiting from far, as they are a key symbol of Chinese national pride and an exciting tourist destination.

How to get to the Bird’s Nest (Beijing National Stadium)

Add: Guojiatiyuchang Bei Lu 1, Chaoyang District, Beijing
地址：北京市朝阳区国家体育场南路1号View In Map
Tel: 010 8437 3008
Opening hours: Daily, 09:00 - 17:30
Website: http://www.n-s.cn/
Getting there: Take metro line 8 to Olympic Sports Centre

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Keywords: Olympic Stadium hosts winter events Bird’s Nest Winter Events