A view of the New Century Global Center in Chengdu, China. The structure is home to an indoor beach and a faux Mediterranean village.
BEIJING: Boasting its own artificial sun and a floor area three times that of the Pentagon, the “world’s largest building” has opened in southwest China to mixed reviews from its first visitors.
The towering 100m high New Century Global Centre, which is said to be big enough to hold 20 Sydney Opera Houses, recently opened its doors in Chengdu.
The complex, which Chinese officials say is the world’s largest standalone structure, is 500m long by 400m wide, offering 1.7 million square metres of floor space.
But the first wave of visitors were divided over the attractions of the structure, which houses 400,000 square metres of shopping space, offices, conference rooms, a university complex, two commercial centres, two five star hotels, and an IMAX cinema. “It lacks creativity,” said one visitor on Sina Weibo, China’s version of Twitter.
Another visitor poked fun at its name.
“Why is everything in Chengdu called ‘global’,” the poster said.
However, some Internet users were impressed with the complex, which opened on June 28.
“It will become the new landmark of Chengdu,” said one poster.
The Global Centre has a marine theme, with fountains, a huge water park and an artificial beach, accented by the undulating roof, meant to resemble a wave.
Inside, shop, stay at either of two 1,000-room luxury hotels, go to a skating rink, or even a fake beach or fake Mediterranean village all lit by a fake sun. AFP
