Chinese government bans those ‘weird buildings’ that Xi Jinping can’t stand

Experts say society’s drive for growth led to the development of structures that were aimed at grabbing attention

The directive also said buildings over 500-metres in height should be ‘strictly limited’

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The CCTV Headquarters seen in Beijing has been called the “giant trousers”. Photo: SOPA Images

Published: 8:00am, 17 Apr 2021Updated: 11:08am, 17 Apr 2021

The Chinese government on Tuesday issued a ban on “ugly architecture”, nearly seven years after President Xi Jinping famously criticised the “weird” buildings popping up across China in recent decades.

As China has experienced rapid urbanisation over the past 40 years, numerous projects turned out to be eyesores – from the “giant trousers” structure of the China Central Television headquarters in Beijing to the half-Temple of Heaven, half-US Capitol building in nearby Hebei province.

The National Development and Reform Commission, China’s top economic planner, issued a directive earlier this week that said “the construction of ugly architecture should be strictly banned”.

A woman takes pictures of a building that is half of a replica of the Qinian Hall of the Temple of the Heaven (R) and half of a western building. Photo: Reuters

It added that local governments should make sure buildings are “suitable, economic, green and pleasing to the eye”. The directive never elaborated on what would constitute an ugly building.

The directive, a summary of goals in urbanisation for this year, also said the construction of skyscrapers taller than 500 metres should be “strictly limited”. There are seven skyscrapers in the world that are 500 metres tall, and China boasts five of them.

While the aesthetics of architecture remain largely subjective, professionals agreed that the obsession with economic growth by local governments and businesses incentivised developers to pursue eyeball-grabbing projects.

Han Tao, a professor in architecture design at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, said they often convey a “vulgar taste”, are copied or cobbled together from old designs, or clash with the surrounding environment.

The Sunac Guangzhou Grand Theatre in the southern city of Guangzhou was deamed the ugliest Chinese building of 2020 by archy.com. Photo: archy.com