Eight New Architectural Projects by Renowned Architects Across China

LUXUO explores buildings that reflect a maturing architectural culture in China, one that balances global design talent with local context, civic engagement and environmental responsibility. From cultural landmarks to soaring skyscrapers, China’s architecture continues to produce work that is visually compelling, technically ambitious and socially relevant. Yet it also prompts a question: why does China frequently commission the world’s leading architects to shape these cities? The answer lies in a deliberate strategy to combine international expertise with local identity, creating projects that impress both local residents and the international design community alike.

Ningbo Centre – SOM’s Supertall Beacon in Zhejiang

Ningbo Centre offers luxury hospitality and prime office space. Image: @Wikipedia by Cz4523.

Ningbo Centre — a new icon on China’s east coast — stands 409 metres above the city of Ningbo. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) designed this supertall tower, which is the city’s highest building and has a remarkable combination of office space and luxury accommodation. While many skyscrapers blend into the skyline, Ningbo Centre stands out with exquisite proportions and a finely designed façade. The skyscraper houses Grade-A workplaces on the lower levels and a Ritz-Carlton hotel on the top, combining commercial ambition with urban living. Its completion is a statement of confidence in China’s urban centres, despite larger economic challenges in the real estate sector.

Greater Bay Area Culture and Sports Centre – Zaha Hadid’s Stadium Complex

Greater Bay Area Culture and Sports Centre is a striking multi-venue project for sports buffs. Image: @Wikipedia by Tim Wu)

Completed in 2025, Zaha Hadid Architects’ Greater Bay Area Culture and Sports Centre occupies a 120,000-square-metre site in Guangzhou’s Nansha District. The multi-venue complex features a 60,000-seat stadium, a 20,000-seat indoor arena and a 5,000-square-metre aquatics centre — all situated beneath ZHA’s signature layered, fluid roof. The sculptural forms guide circulation, link public plazas and integrate landscaped terraces, while materials like glass and steel maximise daylight and structural efficiency. Beyond sports, the centre hosts concerts and community events, turning the architecture into a civic hub that blends functional innovation with commanding design.

Sun Tower, Yantai – Striking Monolith

Sun Tower’s breathtaking structure is home to an engaging cultural space. Image: @Wikipedia by Jonathan Leijonhufvud.

Sun Tower — designed by OPEN Architecture — was completed in late 2024 on a 6,500-square-metre oceanfront site in Yantai. It has 4,200 square metres of cultural space. The tapered concrete form holds a library, exhibition rooms, a café and an outdoor theatre. The building’s geometry is perfectly aligned with solar events, indicating solstices and equinoxes using natural light. Sun Tower also promotes public experience over spectacle with manicured terraces, sheltered outdoor spaces and discreet acoustic treatments. Sun Tower combines environmental awareness with cultural programming, creating a peaceful and social core in a rapidly growing metropolitan region.

Top San Hsiang Complex – A Sculptural Mixed-Use in Changsha

Top San Hsiang Complex creates civic presence with purposeful commercial space. Image: Tungsten studio.

The Top San Hsiang Complex — designed by PEI Architects and Didi Pei — is located on a 7,500-square-metre riverside property along the Xiang River in Changsha. The mixed-use complex comprises five 120-metre buildings and over 50,000 square metres of internal space for offices, residential units and retail. Its sculptural geometry and stepped terraces link the waterfront and public plazas create visual rhythm and pedestrian flow. The complex strikes at the juxtaposition between density and open space, combining commercial ambition with civic presence and its completion signifies resurgent architectural confidence in China’s second-tier cities.

Chongqing International Trade and Commerce Centre – KPF’s Giant Urban Engine

Chongqing International Trade and Commerce Centre is KPF’s architectural pride in Yuzhong, China. Image: @Wikipedia by DvTor8303.

The Chongqing International Trade and Commerce Centre — designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) — will stand 458 metres tall with 88 storeys and anchor the congested Yuzhong Peninsula skyline. It is set to be completed in early 2026. The mixed-use tower — located on a 20,000-square-metre plot near the Yangtze and Jialing rivers — offers approximately 150,000 square metres of space for offices, upscale homes and shops. The building’s slim, curving contour reflects the city’s mountainous topography. A high-performance glass curtain wall enhances views and lighting. Integrated sky gardens and public terraces drive vertical circulation, transforming this structure into a business hub and visual landmark in one of China’s most vibrant megacities.

Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art – BIG’s Garden of Pavilions

Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art’s sinuous roof blends with Jinji Lake’s fluid beauty. Image @Wikipedia by Ye Jianyuan, StudioSZ Photo, Justin Szeremeta.

The Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) in conjunction with ARTS Group and Front Inc., is set to open soon (in 2026). Still, photographs show that its architectural presence is now complete. Explore the images of the Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art. The 60,000-square-metre structure resembles a cluster of pavilions under a continuous roof, reinterpreting Suzhou’s classical garden traditions in a dramatic, contemporary way. The museum — located on Jinji Lake, blurs the lines between inside and outside — with glazed hallways and courtyards that guide visitors through art, water and landscape.

Xiamen International Centre is now a 68-storey architectural landmark in Xiamen, China. Image: @Wikipedia by Baycrest.

Gensler’s Xiamen International Centre stands 343 metres tall and offers 68 storeys on a 12,000-square-metre site in Xiamen’s developing financial sector. The mixed-use tower spans 120,000 square metres and features premium offices, a luxury hotel and retail spaces. Its glass-and-steel façade accentuates verticality and reflects the city’s waterfront surroundings. Landscaped plazas, pedestrian pathways and public terraces are integrated into the podium, creating linkages to the surrounding urban fabric. Designed for efficiency and presence, the tower anchors the skyline and illustrates that ambitious, high-quality design can thrive even in volatile market situations.

Beijing Philharmonic Concert Hall – MAD Architects’ Cultural Jewel

Mad Architects’ China Philharmonic Concert Hall in central Beijing will cater to the city’s burgeoning performative arts scene. Image: MAD Architects.

MAD Architects’ China Philharmonic Concert Hall — located near Beijing’s Workers’ Stadium — was completed in 2024. The building has a total floor area of 26,000 square metres across three storeys. The curved façade, made of glass-reinforced concrete and translucent glazing, filters sunlight while framing views of nearby gardens, lotus ponds and water features. The main auditorium is built for excellent acoustics, with terraced seating and sculptural proportions that create an intimate setting amid an expansive environment. The idea combines cultural presence, urban integration and environmental care to provide a peaceful, contemplative alternative to the bustling capital.

Conclusion

These designs demonstrate that, despite economic volatility and altering market conditions, these famous architects continue to push boundaries by combining technical innovation with cultural sensitivity. They are transforming skylines, reimagining public spaces and designing structures that are both functional and visually appealing. From elegantly sized civic centres to soaring skyscrapers, China’s contemporary architecture demonstrates that ambition and inventiveness are still alive, providing residents and visitors with a glimpse of cities intended for the future while maintaining local identity and environmental responsibility.

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