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SHANGHAI — China's tallest building, the 101-story Shanghai World Financial Center, will open to the public on Saturday, 14 years after its developer began the project.
Japanese property tycoon Minoru Mori expressed relief Thursday at having finally finished the project after years of stop-and-go progress on what he says is the building with the world's highest rooftop, at 1,614 feet, and its highest observation deck.
From the top floor observation deck, where transparent patches of flooring allow visitors a dizzying look to ground level, the view of Shanghai is sweeping and spectacular.
The silver spire of the 1,381-foot Jinmao Tower next door, formerly the city's tallest building, lies far below.
Mori acquired the Shanghai site in 1994 and began piling work in 1997 — just as the Asian financial crisis hit. The land sat idle until 2003.
Over the years, the building's height was raised to make it the world's tallest building, but it will never claim the title. The Burj Dubai became the world's tallest building in July 2007. A few months later it became the world's tallest freestanding structure, soaring higher than 1,800 feet. It is still under construction — its final height a closely guarded secret.
Previously, Taiwan's Taipei 101 had been the world's tallest building, with spires that reach 1,667 feet. The tallest building in the United States, the Sears Tower in Chicago, comes in at 1,451 feet. Before they were destroyed in the Sept, 11, 2001, attacks, the World Trade Center towers both topped 1,360 feet. The Freedom Tower being planned for the site will measure 1,776 feet when it's completed in 2011.
© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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- Public Discussion (22)
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{"commentId":2619865,"authorDomain":"denniswright"}
Last year I went to the observatory at the top of the Jin Mao and watched the work on the SWFC. I had been surprised by the SWFC sign as I walked past the building site on the way to the Jin Mao. Being a Sheffield Wednesday Football Club fan I had no idea they were so popular in China as to merit a huge building!
{"commentId":2619865,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"denniswright"}
- 4 votes
#1 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 11:12 AM EDT{"commentId":2619919,"authorDomain":"Nycam"}
I hear the elevators double as goals.
{"commentId":2619919,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"Nycam"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":2620359,"authorDomain":"junswort"}
you can fit a lot of low paid workers in there
{"commentId":2620359,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"junswort"}
- 1 vote
#2 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 11:56 AM EDT{"commentId":2620406,"authorDomain":"RuthyJObservations"}
Dubai gets the blue ribbon, and I'd like to hear more about that economy!
{"commentId":2620406,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"RuthyJObservations"}
- 1 vote
#3 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:00 PM EDT{"commentId":2620452,"authorDomain":"RuthyJObservations"}
Recently I received an email showing pictures of Dubai and it's skyline and talk about light pollution...
Anyone have stories to share about Dubai? I only know it is an oil rich country.
{"commentId":2620452,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"RuthyJObservations"}
- 1 vote
#4 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:03 PM EDT{"commentId":2621159,"authorDomain":"junswort"}
You should see the islands they are making, they have created islands in really fancy designs (one is even the map of the world), then they will build on them. That's on top of the tremendous amount of other development. Just Google Dubai and islands and be stunned by the pictures.
{"commentId":2621159,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"junswort"}
{"commentId":2620804,"authorDomain":"tang"}
Why'd they put it so close to the Grand Hyatt (another very tall building at 88 floors that isn't that pleasing to the eye)? It looks like it has a handle on it. Not a huge fan. Also, at 101 floors, it's confusing as to whether this is a taller building or if Taipei 101 still holds the title.
{"commentId":2620804,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"tang"}
- 2 votes
#5 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:31 PM EDT{"commentId":2620861,"authorDomain":"denniswright"}
Actually I think the design is stunning!
As for the handle ... hhmm maybe the original plan was to get it built it in Hong Kong then airlifted into Pudong?
{"commentId":2620861,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"denniswright"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":2621948,"authorDomain":"Nycam"}
Not to jinx the structure, but i think the "handle" may be for dramatic fly-bys.
{"commentId":2621948,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"Nycam"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2623003,"authorDomain":"sphinx"}
After reading the article, I'm inclined to think that the handle is the observation deck, as it'd be difficult for a non-handle floor to have glass floors that let you see all the way to ground level.
{"commentId":2623003,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"sphinx"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2669511,"authorDomain":"tang"}
{"commentId":2671008,"authorDomain":"denniswright"}
It's OK. I think it's one of the buildings featured in the nightly laser show.
{"commentId":2671008,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"denniswright"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2675359,"authorDomain":"sphinx"}
Hmmm, at night, the HSBC building looks like a giant old-school jukebox. I hate the 20's futurist look of the Oriental Pearl Tower, though. Dear goodness, I feel like its designer either designed it as a prank or while on shrooms. Maybe Neil Patrick Harris designed it under a pseudonym.
{"commentId":2675359,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"sphinx"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2677626,"authorDomain":"denniswright"}
The Oriental Pearl TV tower does look like something out of Disney Tomorrowland, but the scale is impressive, even if you can look down on it from the observatory on the Jinmao.
{"commentId":2677626,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"denniswright"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2621092,"authorDomain":"BrendaJWright"}
Am I the only one who is concerned with the safety iconcerns that tall buildings like these pose? Did we learn anything from the World Trade Center? Peoples lives...........valuable....priceless.......remember?
{"commentId":2621092,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"BrendaJWright"}
#6 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:54 PM EDT{"commentId":2621623,"authorDomain":"mark12914"}
"Peoples lives...........valuable....priceless.......remember? "
You obviously haven't been to China. Of the things demonstrating lack of priority on human safety, "tall buildings" wouldn't even make the "top 100" list.
{"commentId":2621623,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"mark12914"}
{"commentId":2623013,"authorDomain":"sphinx"}
You obviously haven't been to China. Of the things demonstrating lack of priority on human safety, "tall buildings" wouldn't even make the "top 100" list.
Yeah, I think we would have over 100 foods that would make Westerners run from the room screaming. Sliced jellyfish head, for example.
{"commentId":2623013,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"sphinx"}
{"commentId":2623627,"authorDomain":"mark12914"}
Besides, how could anyone say they didn't learn from the World Trade Center. Look at the obvious hole built into the building....the plane would just pass through harmlessly. I think it is a brilliant design.
Regarding food -- OK, I admit a jellyfish head is a bit gross, but there will always be one and only one KING when it comes to gross Chinese food: 臭豆腐
{"commentId":2623627,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"mark12914"}
{"commentId":2623777,"authorDomain":"sphinx"}
Look at the obvious hole built into the building....the plane would just pass through harmlessly. I think it is a brilliant design.
What they're not telling us is that the building can shape-shift, so that the hole can be moved to any height and face any direction.
Regarding food -- OK, I admit a jellyfish head is a bit gross
Most devious is the fact that jellyfish head is typically prepared so that there's no way to tell you're eating the stuff unless you're told what it is.
but there will always be one and only one KING when it comes to gross Chinese food: 臭豆腐
Seriously? Stinky tofu? It's like the Chinese equivalent of Limburger cheese. :-p
I'd say that stir-fried lamb eyes or braised sea cucumber would rank higher on the "ewww" list. (Both are very good, by the way, as is stinky tofu)
{"commentId":2623777,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"sphinx"}
{"commentId":2624157,"authorDomain":"mark12914"}
Jack, Jack...chou dou fu and human beings were not designed to occupy the planet, let alone the same restaurant. It is an unnatural, evil abomination. If you can tolerate it, it is only because childhood exposure burned out the choudoufu receptors in your nose/brain. There is no other explanation.
I am convinced that when the Westerner leaves, Chinese people clear the table, pull out hamburgers, and have a good laugh about how "that 笨蛋洋鬼子 actually believed we eat that stuff!!!" Someday I will pop back in the room and catch them.
{"commentId":2624157,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"mark12914"}
{"commentId":2626693,"authorDomain":"sphinx"}
It is an unnatural, evil abomination.
So is fat-free ice cream.
If you can tolerate it, it is only because childhood exposure burned out the choudoufu receptors in your nose/brain. There is no other explanation.
Heh, apparently, some receptors were burned out in your brain. I won't guess where, though. ;-)
I am convinced that when the Westerner leaves, Chinese people clear the table, pull out hamburgers, and have a good laugh about how "that 笨蛋洋鬼子 actually believed we eat that stuff!!!" Someday I will pop back in the room and catch them.
Hahaha, well, when you leave, we pull out the Peking duck.
{"commentId":2626693,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"sphinx"}
{"commentId":2621722,"authorDomain":"mcon4gipper"}
The girl on the right should have worn a slip. Imagine her embarrassment. Oh that's right! The internet is censored in China. Never mind
{"commentId":2621722,"threadId":"342130","contentId":"1796437","authorDomain":"mcon4gipper"}
#7 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 1:43 PM EDT{"canLink":false,"threadId":"342130","isPrivate":false}
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