The Chinese government recently placed a ban on weird architecture, but by that time a wealth of odd and unique structures had already been built. Here are 10 of China’s weirdest buildings.
Number 10. Gate to the East, Suzhou. The intention was to build a Chinese version of the Paris landmark, the Arc de Triomphe. The actual result was a structure that many say looks like a giant pair of pants.
Number 9. Louis Vuitton flagship store, Shanghai. Buildings that resemble wearable items seem to have had a moment in China. While the interior is as dazzling and luxurious as the brand affiliation suggests, the outside is often said to bring thoughts of moonboots.
Number 8. Tianzi Hotel, Hebei. China has no shortage of breathtaking monumental sculpture, but the three gods attached to the front of this 10-story hospitality venue are not generally considered to be among them. Though largely unappreciated, the figures do serve a practical purpose. For example, the piece of fruit held by Shou, the deity who oversees longevity, houses a bookable suite.
Number 7. Mobile Phone Building, Kunming. Giant advertisements attached to buildings is nothing new, but in the case of this structure, the enormous phone is actually part of the architecture. The buttons and display screen double as the street-facing windows.
Number 6. Wuliangye Factory, Sichuan. The alcoholic beverage produced there is crafted using many traditional Chinese ingredients and techniques. The building, not so much. Nonetheless, tourists and fans of the drink flock to the locale to check out the place where liquid magic is made.
Number 5. The Piano House, Huainan. Dreamed up by a group of architecture students, the musical-themed creation opened its doors in 2007. The main room is in the body of the piano, and the stairs to it are located in the violin.
Number 4. Teapot Building, Wuxi. Though intended to become a sales office, the 10-story likeness of a serving vessel became a city center for exhibitions. Locals have expressed hope the structure itself will bring a flood of tourist traffic to the area.
Number 3. Xingchuang Tower, Beijing. In the early stages of construction, the building was believed by many to be a nod to Chicago’s iconic Marina City Towers. Nearer to completion, more and more came to the conclusion it actually resembles a chunk of lower intestine.
Number 2. Dadun Village, Hainan. Believe it or not, this is a luxury home community. Among the oddities often noted about the development are the strange building style choice, lack of open space, and overall barracks feel.
Number 1. Jade Emperor Statue, Chongqing City. The area is packed with impressive stone carvings, but one of them seems to have a rather unique feature attached. The supreme being’s headgear appears to double as the roof of a parking garage.
