Unusual 'Lucky Coin' Building Soon To Dot China's Skyline

By Meera Dolasia on February 23, 2012

Guangzhou, the capital and largest city of China's Guandong Province is known for its amazing skyscrapers including, the country's tallest tower. If all goes according to plan, by the end of the year, it will also be known for the country's and possibly the world's most unusual structure - a cylindrical coin-shaped building that is currently being constructed on the banks of the Pearl River.

Commissioned by the Guangdong Plastics Exchange, the 453 foot tall building that sports a 154-foot donut hole, is designed to resemble an old Chinese jade, water wheel or gold coin - All believed to bring good Feng Shui - or good luck and fortune. In addition to the shape, the location of the building, right next to the water (Shui), is also considered to be extremely fortuitous in the Chinese culture.

The brainchild of Italian architect Joseph di Pasquale, the unusual building that artfully blends in the ancient beliefs of the local people with the amenities found in a modern western building, is expected to cost one billion Yuan ($159 mm USD). When completed, it will be used as a warehouse, public information space and research center.

The Chinese people are big believers in Feng Shui - An ancient form of art and science that allegedly brings good luck to practitioners. While applying it to perfection involves some complicated rules, given that the term means wind (Feng) and water (Shui), anything related to the two is bound to bring good fortune. We sure hope it brings a lot of luck to all the people who work inside and to the thousands that are bound to come to view this rather unusual structure.

Resources: worldarchitecturenews.com, gizmag.com

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Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

176 Comments

trowbmig000Monday, January 25, 2016 at 9:04 am
It kind of looks like a caravel ride someone try to ride it
DevaThursday, September 24, 2015 at 6:31 am
it really gonna fall into wator
nick483Friday, May 8, 2015 at 4:17 pm
That is wired might lose ballence and roll over people but awesome same time
snugybugyTuesday, April 21, 2015 at 8:34 am
thats a big donought lol! it is like a donought!
- trowbmig000Monday, January 25, 2016 at 9:01 am
  can i eat it
- freedTuesday, April 21, 2015 at 10:01 am
  yeah it does!:)
puppiesjmThursday, April 2, 2015 at 9:24 am
IT LOOKS LIKE A DOUGHNUT!!!
diamondkidFriday, February 27, 2015 at 5:25 pm
Interesting!
animefan3Friday, February 20, 2015 at 7:03 am
Wow a circle house hmmm I would like there
bigmeloFriday, February 20, 2015 at 5:26 am
Fascinating! One day, I'll travel to China & see all of its amazing monumental structures. :)
nikukyuFriday, February 20, 2015 at 3:13 am
I know it's good luck but they shouldn't be using that much of money...Don't they have better things to spend on, such as charity?
- trowbmig000Monday, January 25, 2016 at 9:06 am
  probably do
- snugybugyTuesday, April 21, 2015 at 8:35 am
  i agree
- crystalmoriFriday, February 20, 2015 at 3:44 pm
  You have a very good point, nikukyu. Maybe they could use the building as a homeless shelter! That would be awesome.
loverTuesday, September 30, 2014 at 10:18 am
that is so cool