The Empty-nest Syndrome

摘要

During the 2008 Olympics, international audiences oohed and aahed over Beijing's stunning new structures: the world-renowned Bird's Nest national stadium, the surreal China Central TV headquarters designed by Rem Koolhaas and the futuristic National Center for the Performing Arts. But now the city's architectural icons are plagued with problems.Seven months after the Olympics, visitors to the Bird's Nest are paying $7 to stare at a big, empty bowl. Tourist visits plummeted from 80,000 per day in October to 15,000 inDecember. The $450 million stadium costs $15 million annually to maintain, but the only major event announced for 2009 is an Aug. 8 performance of "Turandot," directed by Zhang Yimou, the man behind the Games' opening ceremonies. With dreams of wringing $30 million per year from the stadium, its managers now plan to convert part of it into a shopping mall.