CITIC Plaza, Skyscraper in Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China
CITIC Plaza is a 391 m (1,283 ft) office skyscraper at the north end of Guangzhou's new central axis in Tianhe District. Its 80-storey concrete tower has a glass curtain wall banded in lighter and darker horizontal stripes, a flat top with two antenna-like spires, and two small wing-like projections on one edge. The complex also includes two 38-storey residential towers and a five-storey mall.
Construction began in March 1994 and the tower was completed in August 1996, opening in April 1997. Originally named Sky Central Plaza, it was renamed CITIC Plaza in 1998 after China International Trust and Investment Corporation took over. It was China's tallest building until 1999, when the Jin Mao Tower surpassed it.
The building symbolizes Guangzhou's rapid economic growth in the 1990s and represents the city's transformation into a modern business hub. Its prominence in the skyline reflects the aspirations of that era and how people experienced the city's changing identity.
The tower stands at the north end of Guangzhou's new central axis, facing Tianhe Sports Center to the south and Guangzhou East railway station to the north. Linhe West station on Metro Line 3 and the Zhujiang New Town APM line serve the building. Seven foreign consulates occupy offices inside, so expect security checks and lift access restrictions in the lobby.
Beyond serving as office space, the structure is part of a larger complex that includes two separate 38-story residential towers alongside the commercial hub. This mixed-use approach was unusual for Guangzhou in that era and shows an integrated vision for urban development.
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