10 most unusual buildings of modern Chinese architecture

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Huge smoldering factories, countless mines, sewing and assembly lines are not all that modern China is known for. There are also architectural projects that cause genuine admiration for their beauty and boldness.

1. Opera House in Harbin

This stunning opera house was built in the city of Harbin, which is famous for its winter festivals. The building was built in a former wetland near the Sungari River and blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape thanks to its winding and flowing lines.

The opera house covers an area of about 79,000 m² and consists of two halls: for 1,600 and 400 spectators.

2. Shanghai Tower

The Shanghai Tower is a majestic skyscraper in the city of Shanghai. The height of the building is 632 meters, the total area is 380,000 m². At the time of completion, the tower was ranked third in the world in terms of height among free-standing structures.

The skyscraper houses the offices of companies, entertainment and shopping centers, hotels, fitness studios, hairdressers, laundries, shops and all the infrastructure necessary for life.

3. Museum of the Revolution in Wuhan

Wuhan is the largest city in central China in terms of population. It is famous for its history, which is reflected in the magnificent huge museum center, built here in 2011. It attracts numerous visitors not only with an interesting exposition, but also with an unusual design.

4. Galaxy SOHO complex in Beijing

The 330,000 m² complex consists of five interconnected buildings. Several lower aboveground and one underground levels are occupied by a shopping and entertainment center, while the upper 12 floors are intended for offices. On the uppermost level, there was also space for a panoramic bar and restaurant.

Galaxy SOHO is one of the most famous works of architecture studio Zaha Hadid.

5. Museum of Art and History of the City of Ordos

The city of Ordos began to be built from scratch in 2003. According to the projects, it is designed for almost a million inhabitants, but now it is home to only about 20,000 people, which is why this city is also called a ghost town. The museum building is its main attraction, attracting tourists from all over the world.

6. Beijing National Stadium

This multifunctional sports and entertainment complex is often referred to as the “Bird's Nest” due to its distinctive appearance. It was created ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games to host a variety of sports, opening and closing ceremonies. The construction cost of the stadium is estimated at 325 million euros.

7. Sheraton Hotel in Huzhou City

For some reason this hotel got the name "Horseshoe", although in fact it is a full-fledged donut, the lower segment of which is under water and contains two underwater floors.

The building was designed by the famous Chinese architect Ma Yansong. The construction was completed in 2013. It cost the Sheraton network $ 1.5 billion. The building is one of the ten most expensive hotels in the world.

8. National Center for the Performing Arts

The National Center for the Performing Arts is colloquially called "The Egg". This unusual building made of titanium and glass is located in the heart of historic Beijing - right next to the famous Tiananmen Square.

The project of the French architect Paul André was selected in a competition, where 69 of the most famous specialists from all over the world sent their works. The large dome of the National Center for the Arts hides three auditoriums at once: the opera hall (2,416 seats), the music hall (2,017 seats) and the theater (1,040 seats), which are connected by air corridors.

nine. Global Center "New Age" in Chengdu City

This building is recognized as the largest one-piece building in the world. The total area is 1.76 million m², the height of the building is 100 meters, the width is 400 meters, and the length is 500. The building has 18 floors and is almost entirely constructed of metal and glass.

Inside there are retail space, offices, conference rooms, a university complex, two commercial centers, two five-star hotels, an IMAX cinema, a water park with an artificial beach.

10. "Ring of Life" in Fushun City

This grandiose structure in Fushun resembles a ring in shape, the outer diameter of which is 170 meters, and the inner diameter is 150. There are observation platforms at the top, which can be reached using high-speed elevators.

The project was created exclusively as a tourist attraction. Its construction cost $ 16 million.