Chinese Architecture: Buildings in China
Key modern Architectural Developments in the Far East, Asia Built Environment.
post updated 11 October 2026
e-architect feature completed buildings, new building designs, architectural exhibitions and architecture competitions across China.
Chinese Architecture : news + key projects (this page)
Chinese Buildings : A-Z
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Chinese Building Developments – by city
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Major recent Chinese buildings include the Bird’s Nest – Chinese National Stadium Building (2008), Beijing Olympics – The Water Cube (2008), Guangzhou Opera House (2011), Central Chinese Television Tower (2008) and the Chengdu Museum Building (-).
Comments on our Chinese buildings selection welcome. These Chinese buildings are not selected due to their fame but because each in its way achieved a milestone and signified strong creative achievement.
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Major Recent Chinese Building Designs
Architecture Designs in China – recent additions to this page, arranged chronologically:
24 March 2026
Gu Su Qiao Suzhou Shishan Cultural Plaza, Jiangsu Province
Architecture: Not A Studio
picture © Ye Jianyuan
The museum’s architecture draws from the tradition of Suzhou’s classical gardens, reinterpreting the concept of the lang (廊)—the long, covered corridor that guides movement through space and landscape. The design is composed of ten interconnected pavilions unified beneath a continuous roof, whose gentle undulating form evokes the silhouette of traditional tiled eaves.
23 March 2026
Music Classrooms at The Western Academy of Beijing
Architect: studio vapore
photo © Vincent Wu
Beijing-based design office Studio Vapore has completed the renovation of the music classrooms at the Western Academy of Beijing. As part of a broader campus upgrade, the project reconfigures existing spaces to accommodate diverse modes of music education, supporting activities that range from individual practice to group rehearsal.
18 March 2026
Expo Place Shanghai Development, former 2010 World Expo site, Pu Dong, southern China
Design: Goettsch Partners (GP), in collaboration with retail architect Link Design Group
photo © CreatAR
Goettsch Partners (GP) has announced the completion of Expo Place, marking a significant milestone in the long-term transformation of the former 2010 Shanghai World Expo site. The project reshapes what was once a fragmented landscape into a cohesive, human-scaled mixed-use district designed to support everyday urban life.
18 March 2026
Gu Su Qiao Suzhou Shishan Cultural Plaza, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province,
Design: MO Studio
9 January 2026
Sunner Museum, Fujian Province
Design: Atelier Alter Architects
photo © Highlite Images
8 January 2026
Dali Transformer Factory, Dali, Yunnan province, southwest China
Architecture Design: Atelier Alter Architects
photograph © Highlight Images
30 November 2025
Xinghe Yungu Hotel, Xi’an, Shanxi Province
Architecture: DJX Design，Beijing
picture : threeimages
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Architecture in China
We have 8 pages of contemporary Chinese Architecture selections with links to hundreds of individual project pages. We aim to select high quality design-led Chinese building projects.
China Architecture Designs in 2024, chronological:
26 November 2024
The Glade, Chongqing
Architects: HAS design and research
photo : Yu Bai
The Glade Bookstore, Chongqing
24 November 2024
Shaoxing Place, Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, eastern China
Design: Kokaistudios
photos : Terrence Zhang, CreatAR Images
Shaoxing Place Urban Renewal Project
6 July 2024
Wuhan Qushui-Lanting Resort Hotel, Wuhan City
Architecture: DJX Design
photo : Ouyang Yun
Wuhan Qushui-Lanting Resort Hotel
5 July 2024
The Dong‘an Lake Sports Park Bridge, Chengdu
Architecture: Atelier-Sizhou
photo © Arch-Exist
The Dong‘an Lake Sports Park Bridge, Chengdu
25 June 2024
Stellar Isle, Chaichanglong (Fairy Li), Shaoxing, Zhejiang,
Design: SpActrum
photo © Su Shengliang
Stellar Isle Building, Shaoxing City, Zhejiang
30 May 2024
Hainan Science Museum, Haikou, Hainan, Southern China
Architecture: Ma Yansong/MAD Architects
aerial photos : China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Corp., Ltd ; renders: MAD
Hainan Science Museum construction, Haikou
24 May 2024
T33 Full-Time Center, Shenzhen
Architects: Aedas
images : Blackstation Pixel, ACT STUDIO
T33 Full-Time Center Shenzhen
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Older Chinese architecture projects on e-architect:
China Property Developments in 2017
21 Aug 2017
Jingshan Boutique Hotel, Hangzhou
Design: Continuation Studio
photo courtesy of architects office
New Hotel Building in Hangzhou
25 Jul 2017
Haifeng Da’an Temple, Lotus Mountain, Haifeng town, Shanwei City, Guangzhou Province
Design: Shaanxi Lvyun Ancient Landscape Architecture Engineering Co., Ltd
photo courtesy of architects office
Haifeng Da’an Temple, Guangzhou
9 Jun 2017
Public Square and Passenger Facilities, Shenzhen, southeastern China
Design: Architectural design and Research Institute of SCUT
photograph : Liky Lam
Public Square and Passenger Facilities Shenzhen
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China Property Developments in 2013
8 Oct 2013
Shenzhen Stock Exchange Headquarters
Design: OMA
SZSE’s three-storey base is cantilevered 36m above ground, with a modern roof garden atop. The dramatic positioning creates a commanding form in the city.
17 Sep 2013
Emporis Skyscraper Award 2012 shortlisted
2 Sep 2013
Harbin Twin Towers, Haxi District, north east China
Design: spatial practice
image from architect
This iconic architecture project includes office spaces, residential apartments, retail spaces and a hyper link to a new underground infra-structural hub.
2 Sep 2013
Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Suzhou Branch, eastern China
Design: FTA Architectural Design Group
22 Aug 2013
Bayuquan Vanke Exhibition Center, Liaoning Province, north east China
Design: Vector Architects
photo : Shu He Photo, Shengliang Su
The site is flat and vast, with the endless ocean view at one side. Height and distance therefore become the key factors through the concept generating process.
9 Aug 2013
Bayuquan Poly Theatre, Yingkou Plaza, Liaoning Province, north east China
Design: SH-DSD
image from architect
9 Aug 2013
Bayuquan Library Yingkou Plaza, Liaoning Province, north east China
Design: SH-DSD
photo from architect
The prime idea of this architectural design was from two rotated books.
12 Jul 2013
Pingtan Art Museum, China
Design: MAD architects
image from architect
Pingtan is the largest island in the Fujian province, and also the Chinese island nearest to Taiwan.
12 Jul 2013
Lan Kwai Fong Development, Wuxi, eastern China – ground breaking news
Design: Benoy
image from architect
The architectural office create unity and harmony in the overall architectural design of Lan Kwai Fong Wuxi. The development is set to form an iconic cultural and entertainment landmark of Taihu New City.
28 May 2013
Maritime Museum, Lingang, China
Design: von Gerkan, Marg und Partner; SIAD
Maritime Museum Lingang
China’s first ever Maritime Museum is situated on the shore of a five square kilometer artificial lake that has been reclaimed from the Sea. The 46,400 m² large museum, intended to house an exhibition on China’s naval history, lies in the middle of Lingang New City approximately 60 km south of Shanghai.
20 May 2013
Parc 66, Jinan, north east China – award news
Design: Benoy
Parc 66 China
The Parc 66 building has won the 2013 Best of the Best VIVA (Vision-Innovation-Value-Achievement) Sustainable Design and Development Award.
1 May 2013
Museum of Handcraft Paper, Gaoligong, province of Yunnan
Design: Trace Architecture Office
photo : AKAA
Museum of Handcraft Paper
The modern museum building close to a village at the foot of Gaoligong Mountain forms exhibition space for ancient paper craft and artefacts produced locally.
29 Apr 2013
Sanya Super Market, Hainan, southern China
Sanya Supermarket Building Hainan
26 Apr 2013
Dalian Library Building, north east China
Design: Preston Scott Cohen, Inc.
image from architect
Dalian Library China
Datong Library aims to resolve the tension between the two major roles of a central library: as a place of community promenade and gathering and as an archive of knowledge and quite place of study. The form of the building design embodies this tension.
25 Apr 2013
Hongqiao Airport Central Business District, Shanghai, eastern China
Design: MVRDV
image from architect
Hongqiao Airport CBD
19 Apr 2013
National Maritime Museum, Tianjin, north east China
Design: HAO + AI
image from architect
National Maritime Museum Tianjin
18 Apr 2013
Forte Nanshan, Chongqing, central China
Design: SPARK
photo : Jonathan Leijonhufvud / Fernando Guerra
Forte Nanshan
17 Apr 2013
Guangzhou Science Town, Guangzhou, southern China
Design: SPARK
Guangzhou Science Town
A contemporary interpretation of the Xintiandi (Heaven on Earth) urban village, a car-free shopping, eating and residential district.
10 Apr 2013
China Wood Sculpture Museum, Harbin, northern China
Design: MAD Architects
photo : Iwan Baan
China Wood Sculpture Museum Building
19 Mar 2013
National Convention and Exhibition Centre, Tianjin, north east China
image from architects
Tianjin National Convention and Exhibition Centre
This major new building with a total square area of 1.2 million sqm will be one of the world’s largest exhibition centres. The architects won the first prize of an international design competition, beating FUKSAS, HHP, NBBJ/BIAD and others.
5 Feb 2013
Nanjing Road Development Qingdao, eastern China
Design: Santiago Parramón, RTA-Office in collaboration with Tengyuan Design Institute Co.
image courtesy of RTA-Office
Nanjing Road Development Qingdao
22 Jan 2013
Bamboo Courtyard Teahouse, ShiQiao garden, Yangzhou, north of Shanghai, eastern China
Design: Harmony World Consulting & Design (HWCD)
Bamboo Courtyard Teahouse
A Chinese teahouse designed by Chinese architect Sun Wei, HWCD.
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China Property Developments in 2012
21 Dec 2012
Chengdu Tianfu Cultural Centre
Design: Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas
Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas have won the international competition for the construction of the first cultural center in the city of Chengdu. This city is the capital of Sichuan province and was hit by a terrible earthquake in 2008.
12 Dec 2012
Shanxi Broadcast & TV Centre, northern China
Design: BDP architects
Shanxi Broadcast Centre
BDP has been commissioned by the Shanxi Broadcast & TV Channel to design its new Broadcast & TV Centre. This highly significant, provincial level, public sector project is located in Taiyuan, the capital city of Shanxi Province in north China.
11 Dec 2012
Twin Cities in Kunming, Yunnan Province, Southwest China
Architect: CADI (Central Architectural Designs International)
Twin Cities in Kunming
CADI, (Central Architectural Designs International), a new design studio working for Yunnan Jing Dian Real Estate Development, is designing Twin Cities, a 3,500,000 sqm mixed use development set to regenerate the western area of Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, southwest China.
11 Dec 2012
Tianjin Hotel Building, Northeast China
Design: HAO / Holm Architecture Office
Tianjin Hotel Design
HAO / Holm Architecture Office designs a hotel concept for a five-star hotel in Tianjin, China. The Tianjin Hotel project is located close to the center of the city of Tianjin, a city with a population of ten million, situated approximately 120 kilometers south of Beijing in Northern China.
11 Dec 2012
Tower of Ring, Tianjin
Design: EASTERN design office + Kawaguchi & Engineers
Tower of Ring
People forget which one they look up to: the tower or the sky. It has an eye-opening shape, its beginning and ending is invisible.
23 Nov 2012
Sky City Tower – World’s Tallest Building, Changsha
Construction is due to start in December on the world’s tallest building, China, which will be completed in just 90 days.
World Tallest Building
Height: 838 m high; Floors: 220 storeys.
31 Oct 2012
Poly Office Tower Shunde, southern China
Design: Goettsch Partners
Poly Office Tower Shunde
200m-tall building will be a city landmark between Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Architecture firm Goettsch Partners (GP) has designed the new Poly Business Tower in the south of China.
2 Oct 2012
Qintai Center, Wuhan, east China
Design: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
Chinese skyscraper Building
30 May 2012
Oct Design Museum, Shenzhen, southern China
Design: Studio Pei-Zhu
Oct Design Museum China
A surreal space for fashion shows, product design exhibitions and automotive shows.
26 Apr 2012
Yabao Hi-Tech Enterprises Headquarter Park, Shenzhen, southeast China
10 Design
Yabao Hi-Tech Enterprises Headquarter Park Shenzhen
The project is an examination of the relationship between a pristine rural landscape and the advancing forces of a rapidly growing city. The Gross site area is about 65 ha; and the GFA is over 1,050,000 sqm, consisting of 18 high-rise towers ranging from 100-300 meters tall, a 5 star hotel, 3 service apartment towers, 3 residential towers, a shopping mall and a 32 ha park.
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Chinese Buildings – Major Designs
Chinese Architecture Designs, alphabetical:
Beijing Olympics Aquatic Building – The Water Cube
PTW with Arup
Water Cube Beijing
The National Aquatics Centre, also known as the ‘Water Cube’, will be one of the most dramatic and exciting sporting venues for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. Enclosed within the blue bubble walls are five swimming pools, including a wave machine and rides and a restaurant, along with seating and facilities for 17 000 spectators.
Bird’s Nest – Chinese Nat. Stadium Building
Arup, Herzog & De Meuron, China Architecture Design & Research Group
Birds Nest Beijing
Bird’s Nest – Chinese Nat. Stadium Building
British Pavilion Shanghai 2010
Heatherwick Studio
Shanghai Expo Building
Capital Airport, Beijing
Foster + Partners
Chinese Airport Building
Central Chinese Television Tower
Rem Koolhaas Architects / OMA
Chinese TV Building, Beijing
Chengdu Complex, southwest China
Design: Steven Holl Architects
Sliced Porosity Block
Chengdu Museum
Sutherland Hussey
Chengdu Museum
China World Trade Tower, Beijing
Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM)
China World Trade Tower
CITIC Headquarters Tower, Hangzhou
Foster + Partners
CITIC Headquarters China
Galaxy Soho Beijing
Zaha Hadid Architects
Galaxy Soho Beijing
Guangzhou Opera House
Zaha Hadid Architects
Guangzhou TV Tower
Information Based Architecture
Guangzhou TV Tower
Jin Mao Tower Shanghai : tallest building in China wehn completed
Design: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Lafayette 148, Shantou, Guangdong
Studio for Architecture
Lafayette 148
Liangzhu Culture Museum, Zhejiang
David Chipperfield Architects
Liangzhu Culture Museum
Linked Hybrid, Beijing
Steven Holl Architect
Museum of Contemporary Art Shenzhen
Coop Himmelb(l)au
Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art Planning
Nanjing Museum of Art & Architecture
Design: Steven Holl Architects
Nanjing Museum
Phoenix International Media Center
BIAD UFo
Phoenix International Media Center, Beijing
Shanghai Tower – Skyscraper Building
Marshall Strabala architect
Shenzhen 4 in 1 Tower Buildings Design
MVRDV
Shenzhen 4 in 1 Towers
Shenzhen Stock Exchange HQ
Office for Metropolitan Architecture – OMA
Shenzhen building
Shenzhen Vanke Center Buildings
Design: Steven Holl Architects
Shenzhen Vanke Center : Competition win
Z15 Tower, Beijing
TFP Farrells, BIAD, ARUP and MVA
Z15 Tower
More New Chinese Architecture online soon.
Location: China, Eastern Asia.
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Architectural Designs in China
Chinese tower : Shenzhen building
Hong Kong Architecture : selection of major HK Buildings
China Green Building Forum : Shanghai Architecture Event
Buildings / photos for the contemporary Chinese Architecture Designs page welcome.