Staggering Beijing Olympic Forest Park Sculptures
Once a mix of vacant land, storage and agriculture space, the Beijing Olympic Forest Park is now a colossal green space and home to more than 80 sculptures selected from different countries of the world for the upcoming Olympic Games, located on the northern fringes of the Beijing Olympic site.
Sculpture called “Echo” at the Olympic Forest Park in Beijing. Photo Xinhua
More than 80 sculptures selected from different countries of the world have been installed in the park to greet the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games on August 8th.
The sinkage square is dubbed as “palace under ground,” or “the corridor for traditional Chinese arts,” has its 7 exhibition courtyards like ancient-styled Chinese palace gate, booth, chime, and red walls in line, displaying traditional Chinese culture and arts.
Sculpture at the Olympic Forest Park in Beijing. Photo Xinhua
Sculpture at the Olympic Forest Park in Beijing. Photo Xinhua
Character symbols of games on glass screen walls at the sinkage square in the
Olympic Forest Park in Beijing. Photo Xinhua
The massive 680-hectare man-made green space is the largest park in Beijing, including an enormous man-made mountain, a lake in the shape of a dragon, an open air theater, subway stations, and a sophisticated system for bubbling air into the water for purification.
The park was designed to accommodate tennis, archery and hockey events during the 2008 Olympic Games and a fantastic public park, in which only electric vehicles are allowed after the Games.
A group of copper sculptures featuring polo in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) are erected
in the sunken garden of the Olympic Green in Beijing. Photo China Foto Press
A group of copper sculptures featuring polo in the Tang Dynasty in the sunken garden
of the Olympic Green in Beijing. Photo China Foto Press
Copper sculptures featuring polo in the Tang Dynasty in the sunken garden of the
Olympic Green in Beijing. Photo China Foto Press
An expressway which crosses the park has been designed as a “green bridge” ecological corridor over Beijing’s Fifth Ring Road which links the southern and northern parts of the forest park, intended to be a landmark.
Copper sculptures featuring polo in the Tang Dynasty in the sunken garden of the
Olympic Green in Beijing. Photo China Foto Press
Copper sculptures featuring polo in the Tang Dynasty in the sunken garden of the
Olympic Green in Beijing. Photo China Foto Press
Copper sculptures featuring polo in the Tang Dynasty in the sunken garden of the
Olympic Green in Beijing. Photo China Foto Press
Landscaping of Beijing’s Olympic Forest Park took about 5 years for its complete creation, with more than 530,000 plants representing 180 varieties decorating the park.
The Chinese-style park will serve as a “backyard garden” for athletes during the Games.
The concept was to create an Axis of Nature in traditional feng shui practice which involved a hill at the north and a lake to the south, but the earthmoving cost proved be too high. The hills, woods and water concept are however along the lines of China’s imperial parks.
A grid wall with drums inlaid at the man-made sinkage square in the Olympic Forest Park
in Beijing. Photo Xinhua
A grid wall with drums inlaid at the man-made sinkage square in the Olympic Forest Park
in Beijing. Photo Xinhua
Sculpture at the Olympic Forest Park in Beijing. Photo Xinhua
All this greenery will play a part in creating fresh air by absorbing 7,200 tons of carbon dioxide and 32 tons of sulfur dioxide and releasing 4,500 tons of oxygen.
Sculpture entitled “Evolution of Three Dimensional Spaces” sits in the center
of the Beijing Olympic Forest Park. Photo Xinhua
Ancient-style Chinese memorial arch standing on the north entrance of the sinkage square
in the Olympic Forest Park in Beijing. Photo Xinhua
Sculpture at the Olympic Forest Park in Beijing. Photo Xinhua
The landscape architecture design was led by Hu Jie, director of the Landscape Planning and Design Institute at the Urban Planning and Design Institute of Tsinghua University.
Beijing’s Olympic Forest Park was awarded 5th IFLA-APR Award for Landscape Architecture.
Traditional Chinese instrument at the man-made sinkage square in the
Olympic Forest Park in Beijing. Photo Xinhua
Group of bronze-bell chimes in the sunken garden of the Olympic Green in Beijing.
Photo China Foto Press
Group of bronze-bell chimes in the sunken garden of the Olympic Green in Beijing.
Photo China Foto Press
Group of bronze-bell chimes. Photo China Foto Press
The park will only receive visitors starting August 9th in organized tour groups with free admission coupons and will not receive individual visitors.
After the Olympic Games, the park will be renovated and will be reopened to tourists in May next year.
Sculpture called “torch relay” at the Olympic Forest Park in Beijing. Photo Xinhua
Chinese courtyard houses at the sinkage square in the Olympic Forest Park in Beijing.
Photo Xinhua
Man-made sinkage square in the Olympic Forest Park in Beijing. Photo Xinhua
Courtyard houses “knitted” with pipes at the man-made sinkage square in the
Olympic Forest Park in Beijing. Photo Xinhua
Courtyard houses “knitted” with pipes at the sinkage square in the
Olympic Forest Park in Beijing. Photo Xinhua
Mirage sprayed from the ground in front of the south entrance of the sinkage square
in the Olympic Forest Park in Beijing. Photo Xinhua
Olympic sculpture by artist Dean Snyder sits in the center of the Beijing Olympic Forest Park.
Photo Xinhua
Abstract sculptures made of stainless steel tubes in a figurative ensemble revealing the logo of the Olympic Games, held up by five athletes are spread over an area of 330 feet (100 meters) long and 65 feet (20 meters) wide and height between 14.5 to 20 meters.
The sculptures will be located in the western part of the Olympic Forest Park, north of the International Area and the Olympic Village and south of the Tennis Venue, the Archery Field and the Hockey Field.
Less than a month before the Games, the city has an air of expectancy with businesses catching the spirit. The century-old Beijing roast duck restaurant chain Quanjude offers cold dishes in the shapes of the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, two Games venues.
Performers who will perform during the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics wait before a rehearsal at the National Stadium, also known as the “Bird’s Nest” in Beijing. Photo Xinhua
Members of the Huayi Cheerleading Team practice in their neighborhood in Beijing. The cheerleading team with members between 49 and 73 years old will cheer on the stands in the stadiums during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Photo Xinhua
Photo BusinessWeek
In markets, Chinese national flags, Chinese dolls, whistles and Olympic franchise commodities have been put out on the shelves. Near the downtown Beihai area, shops have updated souvenirs with Olympic themes.
Beijing Sculpture Park
A site not to miss during the Olympics is the Beijing Sculpture Park, said to be one of the largest, most prestigious art venues in the world, home to 140 statues.
Photo China Daily / Yufu
Photo China Daily / Yufu
Photo China Daily / Yufu
Unique sculptures in stone, copper and wood make up a magnificent collection at this popular venue.
The goal of The Beijing International Sculpture Park was to bring important art from around the world, to enrich the lives of all who visit the city.
Photo China Daily / Yufu
Photo China Daily / Yufu
Photo China Daily / Yufu
This exhibition is aimed at promoting exchanges and cooperation among sculptors across the world, integrating urban sculpture into everyday life, and encouraging innovation in this sector.
Some are to be placed in sports stadiums during the 2008 Olympics.
The Beijing International Sculpture Park is located on Yuquan Road, Beijing in the Haidian District. To get there, take Line One subway to Yuquanlu Station, where you’ll find the park 33 feet (10 meters) southwest of the subway.
Photo China Daily / Yufu
Photo China Daily / Yufu
Photo China Daily / Huang Lian
Photo China Daily / Huang Lian
Photo China Daily / Huang Lian
Photo China Daily / Huang Lian
Photo China Daily / Huang Lian
Photo China Daily / Huang Lian
Photo China Daily / Huang Lian
Also see:
Stunning Beijing Olympic Topiary Gardens
Sources: Beijing 2008, China Daily, and Garden Visit
What weird looking sculptures. Kind of disturbing but yet very artistic. Very.
I’m always a big proponent of cool public sculptures. My favorite is the “Torch Relay” ladies.
Wow, these sculptures are amazing!
I would be glad, if I could have one in my garden hehe
Just joking. Nice article.
You find some of them disturbing Stan? Sorry you feel that way, but I can’t say that I would agree with that. But each of us has our own interpretations for art.
The torch relay women have an unusual airy/breezy effect to them, Goldwater, particularly with the sheer type of fabric used. My favorites are the glass sculptures for some reason, and the Tang Dynasty sculptures are incredible. But with more than 80 sculptures, these are just grazing the surface of that the park has to offer.
You and me both, Silla
And thanks 
They are all awesome. Very creative indeed..
There’s some stunning stuff in China, I lived there for a while and it was quite some experience. But you also need to ignore quite a lot too, or the contradictions can overcome you.
But the Chinese are some of the nicest people in the world, it’s just their government.
Stunning!
Definitely, Dunn
I would think that there would be quite a contrast with all of the new architectural developments going on for the Olympics, compared to much of the traditional elements in the country, Peter. But it must have been a great experience for you.
I agree, Tomboys
Couldnt believe, what sculptures are possible!!
We have just some boring one in my city-but these are amazing!
Thanks for this photographs!
funny how you knew all about this.thanks for share~
These sculptures are really good. I like “The echo” most. In fact they all are good and unique in there own fields and symbolizes something.
Wow, this is really a good kind of art!!
I like the echo most too!!
I love those sculptures!
My brother’s sculpture is misnamed as “fullfillment”. His name is Dean Snyder and currently has a show at the Tang Museum in Saratoga Springs, NY. You are the only media outlet that has given these artists any attention. Thank you!
My apologies Gayle, I went with what the image had been credited with. I have edited the image to remove the title of ‘Fulfillment,’ and added his name as the artist.
This must have been very exciting for Dean to have been involved with. My best wishes to him with his installation at the Tang Museum in New York. It’s very difficult for artists to receive broad exposure like that, and great to hear that he’s doing so well
Deborah, Thank you for adding Dean’s name. It was and continues to be exciting for him to have been asked to be part of this installation. Gayle
My pleasure, Gayle
Why don’t you show the theme sculpture “Rite of Spring”. Depicts two cranes in a courtship dance. It’s 12 meters high and is made from polished stainless steel. I’ve been to the Park. It’s beautiful.
Thanks Harvey, I wasn’t even aware of this sculpture. The images that I’ve presented here were all that I was able to find during my searches on this.
I really like the Copper sculptures featuring polo. The concept of creating a axis of nature goes long back. What is missing is a beautiful feng shui fountain in the setup…