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In Pictures: China’s building ban

A look at some of the country’s most popular structures in the wake of a new five-year construction prohibition.

The site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party is a museum in the city of Shanghai.
By Rita Alvarez Tudela
Published On 29 Jul 2013

Beijing, China – In yet another move by China to tackle rampant corruption, the country has introduced a ban on the construction of new government buildings, training centres, and hotels over the next five years.

Officials say the ban is part of a campaign to prove that public money is being used wisely and crackdowns on corruption are underway. The new directive was issued last week.

Observers see the move as part of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s growing fight against official graft.

“The directive calls on all … government bodies to be frugal and ensure that government funds and resources are spent on developing the economy and boosting the public’s well-being,” the official Xinhua news agency reported. “The construction, purchase, restoration or expansion of office compounds that is done in the guise of building repair or urban planning will be strictly forbidden.”

One of the most unpopular buildings in China is a Western-style government office in the city of Fuyang in eastern Anhui province. The building cost nearly 30m yuan ($4.89m).

Many analysts say the battle against corruption will not be an easy one inside the Communist Party of China.

 

The Beijing National Stadium, or the Bird(***)s Nest, built for Beijing Olympics in 2008, cost nearly $571m to construct.
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The headquarters for China Central Television (CCTV) opened in May 2012, and was designed by architects Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren of OMA.
An Islamic building in Yingchuan, Ningxia(***)s Hui Autonomous Region.
A view of Huaxi, a wealthy village with a population of about 2,000 people. Huaxi is an example of an unusual blend of communism and capitalism.
A soldier from the Chinese People(***)s Liberation Army poses outside the Great Hall of the People, where legislative and cultural activities commence.
A statue of Mao Zedong in front of the Yan’an Revolution Museum, which boasts an exhibition mainly showcasing revolutionary history between October 1935 and March 1948.
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The Chinese word “chai”, which means "demolishing", is becoming popular in many cities across China.
The National Museum of China flanks the eastern side of Tiananmen Square in Beijing. After four years of renovation, the museum reopened on March 17, 2011, with 28 new exhibition halls.
A general view of Shanghai(***)s skycrapers from the Huangpu river.
Beijing Capital International Airport is one of the world(***)s busiest.
The People(***)s Daily Building, which houses an official newspaper, in Beijing is said to be designed around a traditional Chinese philosophy of "round sky and square earth".