China's National Stadium, commonly known as the Bird Nest, has reported to gain 370 million Yuan (54.2 million U.S. dollars) since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The income was generally generated by visitor tours and a series of commercial events, said a spokesman with the administration commission of the Beijing Olympic Park, without giving a figure for profits.

The annual operating costs of the stadium totaled 150 million Yuan, according to a financial statement issued by the operator, the National Stadium Co., Ltd.. The Beijing Municipal Government has a 58-percent stake in the company, and the CITIC Group owns the rest.

"Tour ticket sales barely cover the daily running costs of the stadium, so we are making it more attractive for commercial events," the spokesman said.

Since August last year, the stadium has hosted a series of global sports events such as the Italian Super Cup and the Race of Champions.

In October, the opera, "Turandot," directed by Zhang Yimou, the director of the Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony, was also staged at the Bird's Nest, he said.

In mid December 2009, the two-month "Happy Snow and Ice Season" festival kicked off in the stadium. Visitors can skate, ski and enjoy dog sled races after paying the 180-yuan entrance fee.

Construction of the Bird's Nest began in December 2003 and it officially opened in June 2008.

It occupies 21 hectares and has a floor space of 258,000 square meters. It has a seating capacity of 91,000 with 11,000 temporary seats.

To better utilize the space, the management plans to construct a shopping gallery with a length of 600 meters, a hotel covering 17,000 square meters and Olympics-themed restaurants in the stadium, the spokesman said.

The stadium has also been chosen as the site for an Olympic museum, which will cover 10,000 square meters and display articles used in the opening ceremony and competitions of the Beijing Olympic Games, he said.