China is to build a world-class national science and technology
museum in the 2008 Olympic Park north of Beijing, it was confirmed
yesterday. ?
It was confirmed yesterday that China has undertaken to build a
world-class national science and technology museum in the 2008
Olympic Park north of Beijing.
By investing in such a project, the Chinese government hopes to
show the world during the Beijing Olympics the scientific and
technological achievements scored by China in recent decades, said
Deng Nan, Vice President of the China Association for Science and
Technology (CAST).
Deng made his comments yesterday afternoon at a ceremony where
work on the foundations for the museum got officially
underway.?? ?
The museum will cover a floor space of 48,000 square meters. The
rectangular building, which has been designed jointly by the
Beijing Architectural Design Institute and its American partner,
will have a unique shape sitting against the backdrop of other
Olympic Park structures. ?
The whole building is expected to open to the public in 2009 but
some areas will be accessible by the inauguration of the Beijing
Olympics on August 8, 2008. The museum is scheduled to arrange
sports, science and technology and cultural exhibitions during the
Olympics.?
The total investment for the museum is put at 1.13 billion yuan
(US$14.1 million) with a construction area of 102,000 square
meters, according to Deng.
The museum project will be jointly undertaken by the China
Association for Science and Technology and Beijing municipal
government.
The existing national science and technology museum is located
in the northern part of downtown Beijing.
(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2006)