The ground has now been broken on what will become Beijing’s tallest building. It will be located directly southeast of the CCTV HQ on Guanghua Lu and is being built by Beijing’s very own CITIC Group. China Zun (so named as it is shaped like a zun, which we all know refers to an ancient Chinese wine vessel) will dominate the city’s skyline upon its completion in 2016.
At 510m tall it will spank Beijing's current tallest, China World Trade Center Tower Three aka the Summit Wing. My word, what a dressing down it is. China Zun will dominate by 180m – that’s 54% of Tower Three’s 330m height.
China Zun’s 510m is also taller than China’s current tallest building, Shanghai’s 492m-high China World Financial Center, but by the year 2016, stretching a little over half a kilometer into the sky will get it no higher than sixth spot in the list of China’s tallest buildings. Projects in Shenzhen, Shanghai, Wuhan, Tianjin and Guangzhou will all steal Beijing’s thunder.
China Daily reports that the new building will incorporate the latest in energy-saving technologies and that the top floor will function as a sightseeing platform and café. Skyscraper City has these photos and others showing what Beijing’s CBD will look like – as well as an example of a rather lonely forum moderator – and another thread devoted to China Zun and the CBD development here. Click on that and then explain to us what some of those buildings are. Who builds arches in this day and age?
Photos: Bandao & Skyscraper City
No, the real question is: how many days a year will the top of the tower be visible through the smog?
I've been to the top of the China World 3 with the hopes of taking in breathtaking views of the city only to discover that even on relatively clear days, the view is significantly obstructed by haze.
Books by current and former Beijinger staffers
http://astore.amazon.com/truerunmedia-20
If you are interested in joining True Run Media, please feel free to contact our team.
