Bird's Nest second only to Great Wall in must-see attraction list of Beijing: poll

BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The National Stadium, or "Bird's Nest", in Beijing had moved over many famous landmarks of the municipality to come in second as must-see scenic spots, according to an opinion poll released at the opening of the 11th Beijing International Tourism Festival on Friday.

The poll was organized by the Beijing Tourism Administration, and joined by 14 million Internet users, from home and abroad. Tourism industry experts shortened an initial list of 30 attractions voted in May and June to 16, according to Saturday's China Daily.

"Water Cube", or National Aquatics Center, followed the Bird's Nest to come in third. The two "wonders" were built for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The Great Wall at Badaling section is still topping the list of tourist attractions. The top three are followed by such attractions as the Palace Museum, or Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and Tian'anmen Square

In a similar poll organized in 1986. Tian'anmen Square topped the list. It was followed by Palace Museum, the Great Wall, Beihai Park, the Summer Palace and Fragrant Hill.

"This reflects tourists' choice," Yang Yang, general manager of Beijing Spring International Travel Services, was quoted by the paper as saying.

"Since October last year, almost all tourists who have come to Beijing in groups have visited the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube," Yang said.

The new list reflected a more vibrant, modern Beijing, said Zhang Wei, a resident of Beijing.