Beijing's Bird's Nest Transforms into Snow Park

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The Bird's Nest Stadium is the world's largest steel structure. And now, it's offering Beijing residents and visitors a snowy escape from their daily lives. Here's more.

Beijing's Olympic venue, the Bird's Nest Stadium has been transformed into a winter wonderland for the next two months.

Twelve artificial snow machines have been cranking to create the "Snow Festival."

It opened on Sunday offering visitors a bit of chilly fun for $20 U.S. dollars a head. But you have to pay extra if you want to ski, skate or do some of the other sporty activity.

As Beijing has severe water shortages, the winter project has raised environmental concerns. Some 700-thousand cubic feet of water will be needed for making the artificial snow.

[Guo Zheng, Bird's Nest Assistant General Manager]:
"We are using recycled water to make snow. After the snow melts down in spring next year, this water will be recycled through the water disposing system of the Bird's Nest and then be used to flush toilet and irrigate green land."

The snow is up to three feet. It covers an area of about 57-thousand square feet, and sits beneath a huge ice castle.

[Li Yufeng, Visitor]:
"I like winter and snowing. And I also like tyre-skiing."

The Bird's Nest is the world's largest steel structure. It cost almost 500-million U.S. dollars to build, and it costs about 15-million U.S. dollars a year to maintain.

The number of visitors this weekend is much lower than anticipated. Management was expecting about five thousand visitors a day, but only about 400 people turned out at the weekend.

Some say the cost has put people off.

[Cui Shuo, Visitor]:
"It's very interesting and fun. But I think it's a bit expensive for students. I have to withdraw more money because I don't have enough cash."

The snow festival is one of just a few events to be held at the Bird's Nest since it was placed under government control to try and stem financial losses.

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