New Century Global Center, Commercial building in Tianfu New Area, Chengdu, China
The New Century Global Center is a building in Tianfu New Area, Chengdu, spanning 1.7 million square meters and making it the largest single building by floor area on Earth. The interior divides into several levels with shopping galleries, hotel wings, office towers and leisure facilities all beneath a vaulted glass roof.
Construction began in 2010 and ended in 2013, with investigations into local officials causing delays. The building arose during rapid urban development in Chengdu and aimed to demonstrate the economic strength of the region.
The name points to the city's ambition to become a global hub for commerce and leisure, reflected in the mix of local shops and international brands. Families spend entire afternoons here, moving between cinema halls, ice rinks and themed zones that echo Western shopping worlds.
Visitors reach the building directly through Line 1 of Chengdu Metro at Jincheng Plaza station and can walk through the galleries between 10 AM and 10 PM. Orientation works best using the large signs at the main entrances, which divide zones by function.
Inside the building sits Paradise Island Water Park with a 5,000-square-meter (54,000-square-foot) artificial beach and a 150-meter (490-foot) LED screen displaying simulated weather conditions. Visitors can swim and lie on the sand here while artificial waves roll and the sky above them changes color.
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