Dezeen Magazine

Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Centre

Work begins on world's second-tallest skyscraper in Shenzhen

Construction is underway on the Shimao Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Centre, a 668-metre-high megatall skyscraper in Shenzhen, China.

The skyscraper is set to rise above China's current tallest building – the 632-metre-high Shanghai Tower – which is also currently the world's second tallest building behind SOM's 828-metre Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Details of the design are sparse and the architect is unknown, but the Shenzhen tower is the project of Chinese property developers the Shiamo Group, which has reportedly invested 50 billion yuan (£5.8 billion) in the project.

The tower, which is shown in visuals with a rippling facade, will form part of a complex including apartments, offices, a startup incubator, five star hotels, shopping centres, international schools, and a convention, exhibition and performance centre.

Located in the Longgang district in the eastern part of Shenzhen, the centre is expected to have a floorplan of 321,900 square metres.

By its earliest estimated completion date of 2024 the Shimao Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Centre may face competition for the world record. The 711-metre Dubai One Tower, for example, is due to top out in 2021.

But the skyscraper can be sure of the title of tallest tower in Shenzhen for the time being, overtaking the 599-metre-high Kohn Pedersen Fox-designed Ping An Finance Centre that completed in 2017.

The city is currently seeing a boom in big building projects. In the Shenzhen Bay area a supertall skyscraper is completing, the 400-metre China Resources Headquarters tower.

This week Foster + Partners revealed designs for the new headquarters for local robotics company DJI, featuring two tower blocks linked by a skybridge that will be used to showcase the company's drones.

NBBJ used also three skybridges to link two towers in their recently completed headquarters for Chinese tech giant Tencent in the city.