Beijing’s Olympic Green was an amazing accomplishment for which the people of the city still feel a great deal of pride. Especially at night in the summer, the place is mobbed with locals just walking around with their families, taking photos, flying kites and watching little demonstrations. For western eyes it is very strange to just have these two big objects set in a sea of undifferentiated concrete plaza. But in such a dense city it seems to provide a welcome relief.
The two objects are really dazzling. Both buildings are dead simple, but also intricate and complex. They fascinate from a distance and then, once again in a completely different way close up. they are also best at night.
