2022 Winter Olympics: Engineers working on Beijing's newest iconic building

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Beijing will host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, and construction projects are already well underway. Engineers are hard at work building new facilities. CGTN's Ning Hong visited the site of the National Speed Skating Oval to see how it is progressing. Have a look.

While the memory of the 2008 Olympic Games is still fresh, Beijing is at it again. Building iconic venues in preparation for the upcoming Winter Olympics.

Li Jiulin was the chief engineer behind the National Stadium -- also known as the "bird's nest"-- for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. He's now facing a new task -To build an ice rink -- called the National Speed-Skating Oval - in just two years' time.

LI JIULIN, CHIEF ENGINEER NATIONAL SPEED SKATING OVAL "We are using this kind of steel wire to build a net for the venue's roof. It could save us a lot of material, while also reducing weight at the same time."

This is one of the stands for the audience that will be used inside the venue. It's made of recycled concrete. After ten years of accumulating experience and new technology, Li is more confident the deadline will be met.

LI JIULIN, CHIEF ENGINEER NATIONAL SPEED SKATING OVAL "We are building this venue like how a car would be made while we are building the concrete structure. The stands, steel and cable structures are being made side-by-side at the same time."

The National Speed Skating Oval will hold the largest ice rink in China.

WU XIAONAN, SECRETARY OF THE PARTY COMMITTEE BEIJING NATIONAL SPEED SKATING OVAL OPERATION CO. "It will be a systematic project, involving ice production, water treatment, a dehumidification system, and even LED lights. The goal is to make it the world's fastest ice arena."

The Oval will be completed by the end of 2019. It will hold ice hockey and speed skating events during the Winter Olympics. Ning Hong, CGTN, Beijing.