Click to play videoBeijing: China began the one-year countdown to the 2008 Olympics on Wednesday and in preparation for the mega event new and unique venues of steel and glass are changing Beijing's skyline.
The towering works of art that the Chinese are building can take one's breath away with their cutting edge designs and yet they retain the old world elegance associated with the Games.
Some of the world's most daring architects have come to Beijing, turning the Olympic host into a workshop of 21st century and the main attraction is the National Stadium.
The National Stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, and seat over 90,000 people. It's also called the "Bird's Nest" because that's what it looks like thanks to the latticework design of criss-crossing steel tubes.
It's also a positive metaphor in China. Bird's nest soup is a delicacy here, and served on special occasions.
The National Swimming Center - also known as "The Water Cube" - is where swimming and diving events will take place. The building has a simple square form. Soap-like bubbles appear to float up the building and at night the structure will glow a bright blue.
Unlike the 2004 Athens Olympics, construction here has been going smoothly. Already two brand new venues are complete. And all but one of the venues are on track to be completed by the end of the year. The exception is - The Bird's Nest - that’s set to be wrapped up in March.
The Bird's Nest and the Water Cube will be used for cultural and sporting events long after 2008. But the Wukesong Baseball Field won't be enjoying the same fate.
This 12,000-seat stadium will be used for a year or two and then demolished - to make room for a shopping mall.
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