Beacon of Olympic spirit adds to city.docx
BeaconofOlympicspiritaddstocity,shistoryBy Michael Rhys Card CHINA DAILY Updated: 2023-09-18 08:26 f l +View of theOlympicToweratnight.MICHAELRHYSCARD/CHINADAILYAspartofarecentphotographyproject,IwasluckyenoughtobeinvitedtoworkalongsideagroupoflocalphotographersandcapturepanoramicnightviewsfromtheLinglongPagoda,attheBeijingOlympicPark.TheLinglongPagodaorTower,whichtranslatesasDelicateTower,wasbuiltasthemediacenterforthe2008BeijingOlympics,andhousedinternationalbroadcastingstudiosthroughoutboththe2008summergames,and2022wintergames.ThetowersitsroughlyinthecenteroftheOlympicGreenareaandgivessweepingviewsofthewidercityscape,anditwasfromthisvantagepointthatWesetouttocatchalightshowthatwasbeingprojectedfromtheOlympicTowertothenorth.WiththeOlympicToweritselfbeinganobservationdeck,thisshootwasauniquechancetogetanabovegroundviewofthetoweritselfratherthanaviewfromwithinit.WithadesigninspiredbybladesofglassandthefiveOlympicrings(thatmanywouldarguelookmorelikemassivenailshammeredintotheground),theOlympicTowerwasopenedin2015andstands258meterstall.Evenduringtheday,thetowerisabeautifullydesignedpieceofarchitecture,butitstruespectaclewasbroughttolifeaftersunsetwhenthelightshowbegan.TheshiftingcolorsandpatternshighlightthesheerscaleofthetoweramongthetreesscatteredaroundtheOlympicGreen,andwitnessingthisfromtheLinglongToweremphasizedthisimpressivearchitecturalfeat.Butturningawayfromthetower,thereisstillmuchtocatchtheeye.TothesouthofourviewpointwastheBeijingNationalStadiumandAquaticsCentre,colloquiallyknownastheBird,sNestandtheWaterorIceCube,andthoughWedidn'thavethevisibilitytoseeitonthisparticularoccasion,oneofthemostfascinatingdesignelementsofthisareaisfarolderthananythingintheOlympicGreenarea.IfonewastolooksouthfromtheOlympicGreenundertherightweatherconditions,therewouldbeaclearviewofthecity,sCentralAxis.Withmorethan700yearsofhistory,thisconcourseruns7.8kilometersfromnorthtosouthandcontainsmanyofthecapital'smostfamouslandmarks.ThisbalancebetweentheancientandmodernisatestamenttothethoughtandrespectforhistorythatwentintothedesignoftheOlympicGreen.AsIgenerallyseekoutthehistoricallocationsofBeijingwhenphotographing,itwasadifferentexperienceshootingtheOlympicGreenarea,andtoworkwith,andIeamfrom,someincrediblytalentedlocalphotographerswasagreatpleasure.Butevenhereinthishubofsportandmodernarchitecture,Beijingstillretainsitstiestoitslongandregalhistory.ContactthewriteratmichaelrhyscardIMichaelRhysCard