World’s Largest Building Opens In China

The New Century Global Center in Chengdu, China is now the world’s largest freestanding building in the world, and we aren’t referring to how tall it is.

At 500 meters long, 400 meters wide and 100 meters high, the 1.7-million-square-meter mega-structure is capable of housing 20 Sydney Opera Houses and almost three times the size of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., according to CNN.

The New Century Global Center is located in a new planned area of Chengdu called Tainfu New District.

The building sits directly opposite the Chengdu Contemporary Arts Centre according to The Independent.

The Inquisitr had previously reported that China had been building the world’s tallest building in less than 90 days. The tower stands at 2,749 feet tall and boasts 220 floors.

Before that, Europe unveiled their tallest building, The Shard. The building stands at 1,015 feet tall and featured a laser show and 30 search lights.

The building is situated on the River Thames at Southwark. It was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, was funded by the Qatar National Bank, and will be used for offices, a luxury hotel, permanent residences, restaurants, and a viewing gallery. The Shard features 44 elevators and 600,000 square feet of office space.

The Global Center, which opened June 28, is home to business offices, hotels, theaters, shopping malls, a faux Mediterranean village and family-themed attractions such as a water park called Paradise Island according to CNN.

The New Century Global Center, officially the largest freestanding building in the world, took three years to complete and will house offices, shopping malls, a Mediterranean village, a 14-screen IMAX Cineplex and an ice-skating rink large enough to hold international skating competitions said The Independent.

The Chengdu area, capital of Sichuan province in southwestern China, is also currently expanding its subway line and also plans on constructing a new airport by 2020.

[Image via China Notebook]