China Zun

The CITIC Tower, colloquially known as China Zun (中国尊), is a prominent supertall skyscraper located in the Central Business District of Beijing, China. Standing at 528 meters (1,732 feet) with 109 above-ground floors and 8 subterranean levels, it is the tallest building in Beijing and was the tallest completed structure in the world in 2018. As of 2024, it remains the tallest building globally with a rooftop helipad.

Design and Architecture

The tower’s shape is inspired by the ancient Chinese ritual vessel known as a zun, which features a wide mouth and narrow base. This form is reflected in the building’s silhouette. The initial concept was developed by TFP Farrells, with Kohn Pedersen Fox responsible for the detailed design. The Beijing Institute of Architectural Design served as the architect of record.

Construction and Development

Construction began on 19 September 2011 and topped out on 18 August 2017. The project was completed on 30 September 2018. Developed by CITIC Real Estate, a subsidiary of the CITIC Group, it has a total floor area of 427,000 square meters (4,600,000 sq ft).

Usage and Facilities

The tower is a mixed-use structure comprising:

• 60 floors of office space
• 20 floors of luxury apartments
• 20 floors for a hotel (300 rooms)
• A rooftop garden at 524 meters

Major tenants include China CITIC Bank, Alibaba Group, Ant Group, and CITIC Group headquarters. Offices are also leased to other Fortune Global 500 firms such as the China Construction Bank.

Floor Allocation

• Floors 1–2: Entrance Lobby
• Floors 3–4: Conference Center
• Floors 7–16: Office Area #1 (China CITIC Bank)
• Floors 19–28: Office Area #2 (China CITIC Bank)
• Floors 31–42: Office Area #3 (China CITIC Bank)
• Floors 45–56: Office Area #4
• Floors 59–72: Office Area #5 (Alibaba Group, Ant Group)
• Floors 75–86: Office Area #6
• Floors 89–102: Office Area #7 (CITIC Group HQ)
• Floors 105–107: Observation Deck
• Floor 108: Mechanical
• Basement B1–B7: Parking Lot
• Basement B1: Shopping Mall (CITIC Publishing flagship)
• Basement B8: Mechanical

Regulatory Context

In 2018, authorities in Beijing introduced a height cap of 180 meters for new buildings in the Central Business District. This measure was intended to reduce congestion and manage urban planning. As a result, CITIC Tower is expected to remain Beijing’s tallest building for the foreseeable future.

Controversy

In April 2018, reports emerged that the top three floors of the tower (Levels 106–108) were to be expropriated by national security authorities. The rationale was that the Zhongnanhai complex, the central headquarters of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, could be observed from these heights on clear days. The building was subsequently mandated to undergo rectification for unspecified “fire safety issues,” and the CITIC Group was not permitted to disclose detailed reasons for this directive.