Hot Ticket Item: 2008 China Athletics Open

Your last chance to check out the Bird's Nest before Zhang Yimou reveals what he's been doing with all those smiles at the Olympic opening ceremony on August 8. Aside from a not particularly spectator-friendly marathon swimming event out in Shunyi at the end of the month, it's also the last of the series of Good Luck Beijing events. You can still get tickets to the 4-day track and field meet but they're now only available from the National Stadium's ticket office between 7-11am and 4-8pm daily. You can only buy tickets to sessions that are just about to take place (i.e tickets to the evening session are not available in the morning) and there is a limit of 5 tickets per person. Despite the name, the open is not limited to Chinese participants and 154 foreign athletes will also be taking part. They'll also be four paralympic events, including wheelchair racing. China's most famous athlete Liu Xiang will be taking part and you can catch him in the final of the 110m hurdles on Saturday evening. The Beijing subway has also announced that given the late finish to the evening sessions (events don't wrap up until past 11pm on Thu and Sat night), they'll be extending the service on lines 1 and 2 for half an hour over the next four days.

May 22-25
China Athletics Open 2008
For more information visit the official site.
Morning session - RMB 40, 60. Evening session – RMB 70, 100. Tickets only available at the gate. Until May 25.
Two sessions daily: morning session 9am-noon and 7pm-late. (Full schedule available here and here). National Stadium