Foundations for planned ‘world’s tallest building’ used as fish farm in China

The foundations of what was planned to be the world’s tallest building are being used as fish farm in China two years after the project stalled, according to a newspaper report.

Construction of the 838-metre tall “Sky City” in Changsha started in July 2013 when billionaire Zhang Yue, the president of Broad Group, arrived in a helicopter for the ground-breaking ceremony.

Zhang had expected the 9-billion yuan (HK$11.3 billion) project to be completed in nine months, using prefabricated building modules, and replace the Burj Khalifa in Dubai as the world’s tallest building.

But work stalled after concerns from regulators over the safety of the skyscraper and its environmental impact and funding.

With no progress on the project in sight, villagers nearby have started to raise fish in its 2.6-hectare water-filled foundations, the Xiaoxiang Chen Bao reported.

One villager started to raise fish in March and has invested over 20,000 yuan in his business. “I raise fish on the construction site. It is not in secret, neither have I ever been stopped,” he was quoted as saying.