Society

The area around Bird's Nest stadium will be turned into a shopping and entertainment complex in the next few years, a state owned news agency said Friday.

known as the Beijing National Stadium, the showpiece of the Beijing Olympics has fallen into disuse since the end of the Olympic games. Paint is already peeling in some areas, and the only visitors these days are tourists who pay 50 yuan (about $7) to walk on the stadium floor and browse a pricey souvenir shop.

Plans call for the $450 million stadium to anchor a complex of shops and entertainment outlets in three to five years, Xinhua News Agency reported, citing operator Citic Group. The company will continue to develop tourism as a major draw for the Bird's Nest, while seeking sports and entertainment events.

The only confirmed event at the 91,000-seat stadium this year is Puccini's opera "Turandot," set for Aug. 8 — the one-year anniversary of the Olympics' opening ceremony. The stadium has no permanent tenant after Beijing's top football club, Guo'an, backed out of a deal to play there.

Details about the development plans were not available. A person who answered the phone at Citic Group on Friday said offices were closed for the Chinese New Year holiday.

A symbol of China's rising power and confidence, the stadium, whose knickname described its lattice of exterior steel beams, may never recoup its hefty construction cost, particularly amid a global economic slump. Maintenance of the structure alone costs 60 million yuan (about $8.8 million) annually, making it difficult to turn a profit, Xinhua said.

Are you ready for the firework show night? Heavy firework is in position!

Let the show sent off.

Firework explodes in the sky.

The most beautiful photo in the lunar new year's eve.

Unveil the covered position.

Covered postion's real time show .

Best wishes for the coming bullish year!

At 00:42, The first OX baby, Cao Keshuo, more than 3.5kg, was born in Beijing Maternity and Child Care Hospital on January 26th.

January 25th Premier Wen Jiabao visited earthquake area cooked for one of local families and had a supper with them.

This is the sixth time that Wen Jiabao spent the Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve without his family.