The National Aquatic Center, also known as the Water Cube, is located in Beijing Olympic Park. It is one of the Beijing Olympic Games' most symbolic buildings. The total area of the center is approximately 80,000 square meters.

During the 2008 Olympic Games, the National Aquatic Center will host the Swimming, Diving and Synchronized Swimming events, in which 42 gold medals will be awarded. After the Games, the center will not only hold important aquatics competitions (such as the Paralympic Games and world swimming and diving tournaments), but it will also be a multi-functional international center providing a variety of sports, fitness, swimming and recreational activities that will encourage people to improve their health.

As one of the main venues serving the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the National Aquatic Center has world-class facilities. A new Olympic subway line has been built to serve both the Center and the 500,000 residents that live in the surrounding area.

The Water Cube was constructed and is managed and operated by Beijing State-owned Assets Management Co. Ltd. Construction began on December 24, 2003, and finished in January 2008. As a subsidiary of Beijing State-owned Assets Management Co. Ltd, Beijing National Aquatic Center Co. Ltd was registered as a company in August 2007.