Construction is going on at a healthy pace, and by around this time next year, a walk along the Pearl River in Guangzhou, China, will come with an unusual bonus: a view of the completed Guangdong Plastics Exchange research center/warehouse.
This unique, 1 billion yuan (US$159 million) edifice is patterned after objects the Cantonese traditionally associate with luck and good fortune. The distinctive feature of the building is that it is shaped like an old Chinese jade or a waterwheel and also has good feng shui for attracting fortune. A golden coin, jade or waterwheel alongside the river means luck to Cantonese: Water brings money.
One thing's for certain - at 138 meters (453 feet) in height, with a 47 meter (154 foot) diameter hole in the center, this is one landmark that will be difficult to miss.
The early response of the locals has been not very positive seeing it as a huge donut or some candy. But then who loved the Eiffel Tower when tit came up... it nearly ended up in the furnace !
The Italian architect behind the GDPE design, Joseph di Pasquale of the firm AM Progetti, hopes that his structure in the future will make it synonumous with the city of Guangzhou
This unique, 1 billion yuan (US$159 million) edifice is patterned after objects the Cantonese traditionally associate with luck and good fortune. The distinctive feature of the building is that it is shaped like an old Chinese jade or a waterwheel and also has good feng shui for attracting fortune. A golden coin, jade or waterwheel alongside the river means luck to Cantonese: Water brings money.
One thing's for certain - at 138 meters (453 feet) in height, with a 47 meter (154 foot) diameter hole in the center, this is one landmark that will be difficult to miss.
The early response of the locals has been not very positive seeing it as a huge donut or some candy. But then who loved the Eiffel Tower when tit came up... it nearly ended up in the furnace !
The Italian architect behind the GDPE design, Joseph di Pasquale of the firm AM Progetti, hopes that his structure in the future will make it synonumous with the city of Guangzhou