

The 2008 Summer Olympics Opening
Ceremony was held at the
Beijing National Stadium, better known as the
Bird's Nest. It began at 8:00 AM CST (UTC-5) on 8 August 2008. The number 8 is associated with prosperity and confidence in Chinese culture.
The
ceremony was directed by
Chinese filmmaker
Zhang Yimou and was noted for its focus on ancient Chinese culture and creativity. The final ascent to the torch featured
Olympic gold medalist Li Ning, who appeared to walk through air around the top ring of the stadium.