Famous Buildings in China Recommended to Visit

China is a culturally rich, vast country that offers so much to explore and discover. When we talk about Chinese buildings there is a long list of famous buildings in China that every tourist should visit. If you’re planning to visit China and you’re not sure which buildings to see, you’ve come to the right place. From an inventory of countless famous monuments, here are 10 famous buildings in China that you must visit at least once.

1. The Bund in Shanghai

The Bund, also known as the museum of buildings, is the most popular waterfront area in Shanghai. It symbolizes modern Chinese architecture and is globally praised for its colonial European buildings and skyscraper views. The best way to make your visit a lifetime memory is to simply roam the mile-long waterfront. You will find a vast variety of architecture, from gothic to baroque to neoclassical, and a richer understanding of the century-long charm of this city.

2. The Potala Palace in Lhasa

The Potala Palace is a religious and administrative complex in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region. It is one of those famous buildings in China that received the honor of being declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, and it is recognized as a symbol of Tibetan history, religion, culture, and art. The palace is enriched with valuable sculptures, scriptures, murals, antiques, religious jewelry, and Buddhist statues. Reaching a height of 3,750 meters above sea level, this 13-story palace is spread over 13 hectares and features around 1,000 rooms, with stone walls about 10 feet thick on average.

3. Shanghai Tower in Shanghai

The 632-meter Shanghai Tower is one of the most advanced and sustainable buildings in the world. It is Shanghai’s tallest building and, at the time of construction, the second-tallest in the world. It has around 128 floors and is equipped with one of the world’s fastest elevators at 20.5 meters per second. The exterior spiral structure adds charm to its beauty and symbolizes China’s emergence as a global financial power. It was designed by a local team of Gensler architects on a mission to embody the city’s rich culture.

4. The Palace Museum in Beijing

The Palace Museum, in the city center of Beijing, is also known as the Forbidden City. The most interesting fact about this famous monument is that it served as the imperial palace for twenty-four emperors. It was built around 1406-1420 during the reign of Emperor Chengzu in the Ming Dynasty. When we talk about famous Chinese architecture, it is one of the most unique sites to explore. All four corners of the curtain wall have delicately structured towers.

5. Saint Sophia Cathedral in Harbin

The largest Eastern Orthodox church in East and Southeast Asia is located in China’s most Russian-influenced city, Harbin. The 54-meter-tall, 721-square-meter neo-Byzantine structure was built in the early twentieth century as a religious landmark for the local Orthodox community. The church was once used as a warehouse for twenty years and is currently a state-run repository showcasing the city’s design, art, and heritage. The 13-cupola sanctuary is now one of Harbin’s most photographed buildings.

6. Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai

Jin Mao Tower is one of the tallest buildings in Shanghai and one of the most famous buildings in China. It is an 88-story landmark skyscraper located in the center of Lujiazui, Pudong New District. If you want to look at modern Chinese architecture with an ancient touch, Jin Mao Tower is the best example of such a blend. The architect combined elements of traditional Chinese culture with modern architectural styles to produce a masterpiece.

7. Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi’an

The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is an ancient Buddhist temple in southern Xi’an, Shaanxi province. It has glorified the importance and beauty of the Silk Road with its architectural wonders, precious Buddhist relics, rich spiritual culture, and the stories of the renowned ancient monk Xuanzang. Built over 1,300 years ago, this brick tower is the earliest surviving attic-style building of the Tang dynasty. It now serves as a landmark of Xi’an.

8. CCTV Headquarters in Beijing

The headquarters of China Central Television is an iconic 234-meter non-traditional building on Guanghua Road in the Beijing Central Business District. The building has fifty-four floors and a novel, geometric style. Its architecture revolves around deconstructivism, it is formed like a loop, with two ‘L’-shaped towers connecting at the highest and lowest ends. Almost all of China’s television broadcasts are recorded, created, and aired from this building.

9. The Lotus Building in Jiangsu

The Lotus Building, which seems to grow right out of the water, was designed by Studio 505, an Australian architectural firm. Blooming out of an artificial lake in the middle of Wujin, it showcases the three stages of the flower, from the young bud to the full ripe flower to the opened bloom with a seed pod inside. The entrance is found below the lake, and the inside holds conference rooms, conference centers, and exhibition halls. It houses departments of the city’s planning and design bureau, making it one of the most stunning government buildings.

10. Star Trek Enterprise Building in Fuzhou

A Chinese executive, Liu Dejian, who is a huge Star Trek fan, constructed a building that pays homage to the USS Enterprise. Among all the famous buildings in China, this is the best current example of modern Chinese architecture. The building features thirty-foot metal slides for quick access to the lowest level, automatic sliding doors between rooms, and an enormous replica of a T-Rex. If you are a Star Trek fan, you must pay a pilgrimage here.

Along with famous European and Arabic architecture, ancient Chinese architecture is an important part of the world’s architectural history. Ancient Chinese architecture mainly consisted of timberwork, where lintels, wooden posts, and beams made up the framework of a regular house. Today, things have changed greatly, and modern Chinese architecture is being recognized globally for its unique framework and enthralling design. It was hard to shortlist only ten from such amazing buildings. Apart from the top 10 above, here are a few honorable mentions:

• The Piano House in Huainan
• The Beijing Tianzi Hotel in Langfang
• New Century Global Center in Chengdu
• The Zoho Peaks in Beijing
• The Guotai Arts Center in Chongqing
• The Henan Art Center in Zhengzhou
• The Sheraton Hotel in Huzhou
• The Olympic Green in Beijing

China is an architecturally diverse country, with all sorts of designs and sculptures housed within. From European historic buildings to gothic and baroque designs, you will find it all here.