Beijing hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics, the first Summer Games held in China.
The Games opened on 8 August 2008 and used venues across Beijing, with sailing held in Qingdao and equestrian events held in Hong Kong. The opening ceremony took place at the National Stadium, widely known as the Bird’s Nest.
China had previously hosted the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing later that year, but the 2008 Olympics were its first Olympic Games of either summer or winter type. Beijing later became the first city to host both Summer and Winter Olympics when it staged the Winter Games in 2022.
The 2008 Olympics featured 28 sports and more than 10,000 athletes. Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Guangzhou are major Chinese cities, but none hosted the main Summer Olympic Games in 2008.