Guangzhou Circle, Commercial skyscraper in Liwan District, Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou Circle is a 138 m tall, 33-storey tower on the Pearl River in Liwan District, Guangzhou. Its two circular facades, clad in pale gold triangular and diamond panels over dark glass, enclose an open central core about 59 m in diameter. The disc widens into a plinth at ground level, where a ring of small structures sits below the opening.
The structure was designed by Italian architect Joseph di Pasquale and completed in December 2013 as the headquarters for Hongda Xingye Group and Guangdong Plastic Exchange. This completion marked the arrival of a new architectural landmark in the district.
The Cantonese pronunciation of Guangzhou Circle, Jyutping Jyun4, sounds close to "Guangzhou jyun" (Guangzhou finished), a pun widely discussed by locals. The form also echoes the number 8 and the infinity symbol, both considered propitious in Chinese culture.
The building stands on the Pearl River bank in the Bai'etan business district of Liwan District, at Guangzhou's south-west edge; the surrounding area is still partly undeveloped, with few nearby amenities and limited transport. The public plaza and the dark fountain in front are open, but the building's public areas are not. The open core measures almost 59 m across.
When reflected in the adjacent Pearl River, the circular structure creates the outline of a figure eight. This optical effect transforms the building into a visual embodiment of a geometric principle that appears accidental but was deliberately conceived.
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