Skylines of many not-so-popular Chinese cities that will take your breath away too.

Once I mentioned about skylines, many of you would have thought of those popular big cities that are no doubt boosting some of the world’s best-looking skylines like Hong Kong, New York, Chicago, etc. In fact, China alone is doing great in terms of its skylines found in some of the highly-populated Chinese cities. The first in your mind must be Hong Kong, which many claimed that the city is ranked No.1 in the world when you are comparing the city skylines. My city, Kuala Lumpur also looks great for its skylines, thanks mostly to the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, but if you compare it to Hong Kong, KL is so far behind.

I have visited Hong Kong once few years ago and I’m truly impressed by the density, and the tallness of every little buildings in this small island-territories. Wonderful scenery with picturesque backdrop of hills beautified with impressive lighting of buildings at night. No doubt it is No.1 in the world in terms of skylines. Next in China would be Shanghai, another mega-city but with beautifully-planned and organized areas for skyscrapers particularly the iconic Pudong district that is home to three of the city’s tallest buildings. Won’t explain any further on these two cities as you must have known and seen many pictures of Hong Kong and Shanghai before too, right? My highlight of this post is on the other not so known Chinese cities that you will be awed once you look at their skylines too. These cities will surprised you.

First is Guangzhou. This city is steadily gaining popularity due to its success on hosting the 2010 Asian Games. Many parts of the city particularly the central business district undergoes massive transformation to turn the city into a world-class urban centre. Many modern public spaces, impressive and tall buildings were also built as a sign of extensive growth of the city’s economy. Current tallest building in the city is the 432 metres Guangzhou International Finance Centre. The skyscraper won’t hold that title long as a construction is underway for the city’s new tallest right opposite it. It would be named CTF Finance Centre with 530 metres height. The city is also home to current world’s second tallest TV tower, the 600 metres tall Canton Tower. So, here is what you get to see of Guangzhou:

 

 

 

Next is Shenzhen. I have visited this city in my same trip to Hong Kong few years ago. That time I was thinking; ‘What is Shenzhen? I have never heard of that place before. Is it a town or a village? Must be under-developed.’ Once I step my foot onto the city for the first time, I was all wrong and stunned. Highrises everywhere with wide roads, busy and crowded streets, advanced infrastructures and public transportation, etc. Huh…Current tallest building in the city is Kingkey Finance Center Plaza that stood at 442 metres. The building won’t hold the title for long too as a project is also underway to build a 660 metres tall Pingan Finance Centre building. Crazy height…China loves to build supertalls in recent years.

 

The third would be Chongqing, China. I’m sure not many have heard of the city before. There is no major landmarks representing this city or anything. But the density of the tall buildings sprawling in this city is no question massive. I also couldn’t explain anything more about this city as I didn’t know much about it too. We will just let ‘picture speaks a thousand words’;

 

The fourth and last on my list would be Nanjing. This city is particularly famous now because it is currently hosting the 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games. This games let the world knows of this city’s existence and since then, its popularity rises just like Guangzhou. The city’s current tallest building is the 450 metres high Nanjing Greenland Finance Centre.

 

Breathtaking skylines, right? Remember, these are not from Hong Kong or Shanghai. These are only from Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Nanjing. They are just secondary Chinese cities but are already presenting awesome skylines that could even compete with major cities across the world like Singapore, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Bangkok, Toronto, Sydney, etc.

(Images in this post are from various sources throughout the world wide web)

Interesting skyscraper fast rising: Kingkey International Finance Centre

Not many people have heard of this skyscraper before. It’s a supertall building under-construction in Shenzhen, China. Not many people knew about the city too. Seems like a typical Chinese cities, this city is among the main economic centers of the nation, alongside with others like Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing, etc. The close distance of the city to Hong Kong also enables much internal trading between these two giant metropolis. Many cities in China are fast rising, like Guangzhou, Chongqing, Chengde, Tianjin and of course, Shenzhen eventhough not many notice it.

Back to this skyscraper, the construction began around the fourth quarter of 2007. Two to three years later (now) which is a short duration of time from construction commencement, the tower has reached to the height that overwhelmed other buildings. Shenzhen is full of highrises too, hence a skyscraper towering others means that that tower is really absolutely TALL.

The estimated completed height of the building would be around 439 to 442m, similar to the height of Willis Tower, Chicago. When completed, this tower would be in Top 10 lis of world tallest building. This building is scheduled to be completed by end of year 2010 (yes, this year), and by far, is a large scale skyscraper project that progresses on schedule. As seen from the progress too, cladding has just started and many interior works have to be done, hence I think year 2011 would be the more exact year for completion as well as opening. Anyway, it is still considered fast rising because when I checked out the update pictures two months ago, it is only around 20 to 30 storeys, now it seems to be over 50 to 60 storeys. Fast, right?!

The architecture of this building is simple, yet interesting. The slenderness of the facade covered by glass strikes the beauty of the building perfectly. Besides that, it is seen as a giant waterfall flows down to bottom that acts as the main entrance to the building. The tower’s fluid, elegant shape and reflective skin is an allusion to a fountain that connotes the wealth and prosperity springing forth from the economic success zone that is Shenzhen. Many symbolism that Chinese preferred can be seen in this building’s architecture too. With planned 97-98 storeys high, this tower would surpass Shun Hing Square (384m) as the tallest building in the city. Another interesting feature of the skyscraper is the large ship-like sky atrium of gardens and restaurants at the top of the building. The building is designed by Terry Farrell and Partners. It will be used mainly for Grade A office and six-star hotel. Overall, it’s a very nice slim design!

Hopes that the final outcome would be as good or even better than the renderings, because sometimes completed building might not meet the expectation as required from those beautiful computer-rendered images!

Modern China with modern cities

hundred years ago, everybody knew that China is kinda ‘old’, too traditional with imperial system by the time, and not modernized…the government is like ‘locked’ in the Forbidden City from the outside world by the high walls surrounding the palace, the Empress Dowager Cixi (Chi Hei Tai Hau) ordered that there should be no influence from the outer modern world especially from the Western. Luckily, the imperial system is abolished.

Then, China gained independence officially…then, China went silent from the outer world…everything is being ‘inside’ rather than ‘outside’…there are still no great modernizing effect on the poor country by the time…

Around two decades ago, China is like ‘boom’! Major changes occur to the country so that the country will be on par to globalization. Demolishing of old buildings, construction on new lands, building of towers, and introduction of economic policies put China to the peak in becoming modernized.

Many cities evolved from small quiet towns into the big buzzling cities currently such as

Shanghai (most advanced city in China)

Shenzhen (another booming city with rapid economic growth)

Guangzhou (a big city with new things to come)

Chongqing (among the biggest city in China, very densely populated)

Beijing (capital city, great architecture -traditional and modern, host city of 2008 Summer Olympic Games)

Do not forget Hong Kong, it is still belongs to China and it is the world best skyline city..thumbs up for this awesome city.

Despite the global downturn lately, China has not slows down its economic growth..everything keeps going, no matter going big or going tall! More and more cities are emerging from the country! It is now able to compete with others as it is one of the strong nation in the world. Eventhough I am Malaysian, but I am still Chinese, originated from China!

Malaysia, I mean in its capital city, Kuala Lumpur, construction of buildings can still be seen, but not as much as in China. The economic situation here is far worst. No need to compete already know which country win…Haiz!