Beijing Olympic Village

Beijing Olympic Village

The Beijing Olympic Village (simplified Chinese: 北京奥运村; traditional Chinese: 北京奧運村; pinyin: Běijīng Àoyùn Cūn) is a complex of high-rise apartments in Beijing, People’s Republic of China, which was opened to the public on July 27, 2008 and closed on August 27, 2008 in conjunction with the 2008 Summer Olympics. As an Olympic Village it hosted the attendees, which included competitors and their coaches, during the event.

Why is Beijing Olympic Village So Special

The Olympic Village may be the world’s largest green building complex. The 160-acre site, containing 42 residential buildings ranging from six- to nine- stories, includes a combination of high-tech and low-tech solutions to radically reduce energy and raise efficiency, including insulation, energy efficient windows, solar and green roofs, and a heat exchange system that collects and re-uses rainwater for heating and cooling, saving energy by 40 percent over typical HVAC systems.

The village is very Environmental. Roofs are covered in solar panels and vegetation, and toilets flush with graywater. Most parking has been tucked underground, freeing up room for green space, which covers 90 percent of site landscaping, along with pedestrian and bike paths. To address concerns over the city’s water supply, engineers included a water-efficient irrigation system as well as drought-resistant and native plants, which also help to capture stormwater in the village.

Introduction of The Olympic Village

The Olympic Village, covering an area of 66 hectares, is located at the northwest corner of the Beijing Olympic Green, with the Olympic competition venues to its south and the Olympic Forest Park to its north.

Three Areas

The Olympic Village is divided into three areas: the Residential District, (where 205 delegations will reside); the International District (the region that provides business services including banks) and the Operational District (the area that provides support services such as logistics and communications). Athletes’ apartments are within the six or nine-story buildings.

  • Residential District
    The Residential District has 12 service centers to provide accommodations, front desk services and related information. Restaurants and snack bars in the Residential Area will available on a 24-hour basis to meet the needs of people of different ethnic groups and different religious beliefs. The indoor living area has a fitness training center, jogging path, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts and other recreational facilities; as well as a sports cafe, game room, DVD centre and other entertainment facilities.
  • International District
    The international area of the Beijing Olympic Village has a courtyard-shaped commercial area. In addition to banks, shopping facilities, tea houses and coffee shops, the Beijing Olympic Village will offer a commercial facility tailored like a traditional Beijing Siheyuan — a courtyard surrounding by houses. At the entrance of the village, Chinese elements will also be seen.Various art performances, including Chinese traditional arts, will be staged at the flag-raising square at the International area.
  • Operational District
    The overlay area in the north of the village will provide services including arrival, accreditation, leisure, catering, fitness and departure for athletes coming to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. There will be the Welcome Ceremony Stage, the Village Mayor Office, the Dining Hall, the shopping center, the logistics center and accreditation center.

Apartment Buildings

The apartment buildings for athletes, in the south of the village, cover an area of 27.55 hectares and a floor area of 524,000 square meters. They include 20, nine-story buildings; 22, six-story buildings; three Super Resident Centers; nine Resident Centers and facilities including the Polyclinic and the Casual Dining Hall. Now this builgings are upscale housings.

How to Get There

  • Line 8 subway via Olympic Sports Center
    ¥3 – ¥4 (National Art Museum of China →Olympic Sports Center→Walk there)
  • Line 8 subway
    ¥3 – ¥5 (National Art Museum of China →Olympic Green →Walk there)
  • Line 13 subway, line 15 subway
    ¥5 – ¥10 (Dongzhimen Station →Wangjing West Station→ Change / transfer →Wangjing West Olympic Park)

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Edited by  Lynette Fu/付云锐