Unique Style Buildings In China

Daring architecture or over-sized monstrosities that look plainly ridiculous? The giant buildings that are popping up all over China By Leon Watson Some of these spectacular buildings epitomise the daring architecture we have come to expect from the nation that gave us the magnificent Bird's Nest stadium. But others have provoked roars of laughter and been lampooned the world over. Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of modern Chinese architecture. The Beijing Tianzi Hotel was ranked China's ugliest building for 2012. The three men depict Chinese gods and symbols of prosperity, happiness, and career achievement Ring of life: This building in the northeastern city of Fushun is made with over 3,000 tons of steel and decorated with 12,000 LED lights Bold design: Beijing's new Phoenix International Media Centre has a distinct, caved-in hollow As the vast country's building boom continues, huge and ever-more fascinating superstructures have been piercing the skylines. From giant behemoths that look like long johns to one in the shape of a giant traditional Chinese coin, not all have gained critical approval. In a survey by Chinese architectural firm, Archcy, online voters ranked Pangu Plaza, used during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as one of the ugliest buildings in the People's Republic. A particularly garish building in the northeastern city of Fushun made with over 3,000 tons of steel and decorated with 12,000 LED lights was also chosen. As was the Beijing Tianzi Hotel which was ranked China's ugliest building for 2012. It is fronted by three men depicting Chinese gods and symbols of prosperity, happiness, and career achievement. Then there's the Shanghai LV Building, which looks like a giant boot. Most unfortunate of all is perhaps the new Beijing headquarters of the People's Daily newspaper in Beijing. A building in the shape of a giant traditional Chinese coin in northeastern China was also chosen as one of the world's ugliest buildings last year Online voters ranked Pangu Plaza, used during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as one of the ugliest buildings in China last year Underwear despair: The £445m Gate of the East in Suzhou, China, has been likened to a pair of long johns Tough sell: According to the designer's website, the arch 'introduces a dramatic iconic "gateway" to the city of Suzhou and represents the significance of the China in the world today' Object of ridicule: The new Beijing headquarters of the People's Daily newspaper in Beijing, China (What does this building look like?) The construction, with its phallic-like connotation, has become an object of ridicule among Chinese citizens. The People's Daily is the official mouthpiece of the Chinese ruling party The construction, with its phallic-like connotation, has become an object of ridicule among Chinese citizens. The People's Daily is the official mouthpiece of the Chinese ruling party. There have also been numerous other examples of massive building projects that have attracted more admirers that detractors. For example there's Beijing's new Phoenix International Media Centre which has a distinct, caved-in hollow, almost like a giant Yorkshire pudding. With its sweeping metallic curves and shimmering glass exteriors, it is scheduled to open this year. Not pretty: The Guiyang Science and Technology building in Guizhou The Linked Hybrid buildings in the capital Beijing stand out a mile