China’s National Aquatics Center, also known as the “Water Cube,” is seen less than a hour from the start of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summer Games.
Soldiers stand at attention during the opening ceremony. The three-hour show at Beijing’s iconic “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium is set to see more than 15,000 performers showcase the nation’s ancient history and its rise as a modern power.
Drummers take their positions for the opening ceremony at National Stadium. (Adam Pretty / Getty Images)
The drummers’ opening ceremony performance. (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
An artist looks like a shiny puppet during an opening ceremony performance. (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
Artists don dramatic headdresses during the opening ceremony. (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
Fireworks light up Beijing’s night sky during the opening ceremony. (Behrouz Mehri AFP/Getty Images)
The Olympic rings are illuminated. (Alexander Hassenstein Bongarts / Getty Images)
A Chinese performer creates atmosphere with colorful scarves during the ceremony. (Cameron Spencer / Getty Images)
Using a little imagination, a viewer might think the opening ceremony, at one point, resembled a birthday cake with candles. (Mike Hewitt / Getty Images)
A “sailboat” performance. (Mike Hewitt / Getty Images)
Performers glow and sparkle. (Mike Hewitt / Getty Images)
A nod to tradition and history. (Mike Hewitt / Getty Images)
One of many regal moments. (William West AFP/Getty Images)
A young dancer is suspended in air. (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
Performers create a striking sea image. (Jewel Samad AFP/Getty Images)
Performers walk around a floating sphere. (Luca Bruno / Associated Press)
A dramatic dance and musical performance. (Cameron Spencer / Getty Images)
Performers dance on a white paper sheet representing “papermaking” during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games in the National Stadium. More than 15,000 performers showcased the nation’s ancient history and its rise as a modern power. (Nicolas Asfouri AFP/Getty Images)
Illuminated dancers perform during the opening ceremony. (Adam Pretty / Getty Images)
A spacesuited performer inside the National Stadium during the opening ceremony. (Vladimir Rys Bongarts/Getty Images)
Fireworks explode over China’s National Stadium, also known as the “bird’s nest,” during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. (Alexander F. Yuan / Associated Press)
