Raffles City Chongqing

{{short description|Skyscraper complex in Chongqing, China}} {{Infobox building | name = Raffles City Chongqing | native_name = 重庆来福士广场 | native_name_lang = zh | logo = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = Raffles City Chongqing from Yangtze River(cropped).jpg | image_size = 250px | image_alt =  | image_caption =  Raffles City Chongqing in September 2019 | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_label = | pushpin_mark = | pushpin_relief = | former_names = | etymology = | status = Opened | cancelled = | topped_out = | architectural_style = High-tech architecture | classification = | location = China | address = No.18, Xinyi Street, Yuzhong District | location_city = Chongqing | location_country = China | coordinates =  | altitude = | current_tenants = | namesake = | groundbreaking_date = | construction_start_date = 2013 approx. | construction_stop_date = | topped_out_date = January 2019 | completion_date = August 2019 | opened_date = 6 September 2019 | inauguration_date = | relocated_date = | renovation_date = | closing_date = | demolished_date = | cost = | ren_cost = | client = | owner = | landlord = | affiliation = | height = 354.5 meters | architectural = | tip = | antenna_spire = | roof = | top_floor = | observatory = | diameter = | circumference = | weight = | other_dimensions = | structural_system = | material = Reinforced concrete and steel | size = | floor_count = 67 | floor_area = {{convert|1200000|sqft|sqm}} | elevator_count = | grounds_area = | architect = Moshe Safdie | architecture_firm = | developer = CapitaLand | engineer = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | civil_engineer = | other_designers = | quantity_surveyor = | main_contractor = | awards = | designations = | known_for = | ren_architect = | ren_firm = | ren_engineer = | ren_str_engineer = | ren_serv_engineer = | ren_civ_engineer = | ren_oth_designers = | ren_qty_surveyor = | ren_contractor = | ren_awards = | number_of_rooms = | parking = | website =  | embed = | embedded = | references = | footnotes = }} {{Chinese | order = st | s = 重庆来福士广场 | t = 重慶來福士廣場 | p = Chóngqìng Láifúshì Guǎngchǎng }} '''Raffles City Chongqing''' is a complex of eight buildings in Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China, developed by Singaporean real estate developer CapitaLand and constructed by China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group Co. Ltd.

Raffles City Chongqing features a 300-metre-long horizontal skybridge called the "Crystal" that connects the top of four of the skycrapers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.safdiearchitects.com/projects/raffles-city-chongqing|title=Safdie Architects|website=www.safdiearchitects.com|accessdate=1 March 2019}}</ref> The skybridge is the second highest in the world after the Kingdom Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The entire project comprises eight towers with a total of 817,000 square metres of floor space. It was designed by Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/raffles-city-chongqing-horizontal-skyscraper/index.html|title=China's 'horizontal skyscraper' attraction nears completion|first=Tamara |last=Hardingham-Gill|date=27 February 2019|website=CNN Travel|accessdate=1 March 2019}}</ref> It is one of the most expensive buildings built in China.{{cn|date=July 2021}} It replaced the 32-story passenger terminal building and hotel built in 1996 and the ''Three Gorges Hotel'' that was demolished on August 30, 2012.

thumb|right|150px|Raffles City Chongqing exterior in 2019

==Timeline== Construction began around 2013.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.phoenixnewsonline.com/2019/02/27/chinas-amazing-horizontal-skyscraper-raffles-city-chongqing-nears-completion/|title=China's amazing horizontal skyscraper at Raffles City Chongqing nears completion|first=Chika|last=Emeche|date=27 February 2019|publisher=|accessdate=1 March 2019|archive-date=1 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301074637/https://www.phoenixnewsonline.com/2019/02/27/chinas-amazing-horizontal-skyscraper-raffles-city-chongqing-nears-completion/|url-status=dead}}</ref> As of February 2019, the structures had been completed and the interior was being finished.

==Overview== Raffles City Chongqing consists of eight skyscrapers situated on a site covering 9.2 hectares, in Yuzhong District, at the tip of the peninsula where the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers meet.

Atop four of the 250-metre-tall towers is an enclosed skyway, called the Crystal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theedgesingapore.com/capitaland-announces-topping-out-raffles-city-chongqing-says-track-open-2h19|title=CapitaLand announces topping out of Raffles City Chongqing; says on track to open by 2H19|date=25 February 2019|website=The Edge Singapore|accessdate=1 March 2019}}</ref> Two 350-metre-tall towers connect to them, each via a cantilever bridge. Two other 250-metre-tall towers are adjacent to these six.

The project contains 1.12 million square metres of space, 817,000 square metres of which is floor space and includes 150,000m<sup>2</sup> of office space and 1,400 residences, a hotel, a 235,000m<sup>2</sup> shopping mall, and landscaped grounds.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=CapitaLand tops out China's Raffles City Chongqing with highest sky bridge - World Construction Network |url=http://www.worldconstructionnetwork.com/news/capitaland-tops-out-china-s-raffles-city-chongqing-with-highest-sky-bridge/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301074624/https://www.worldconstructionnetwork.com/news/capitaland-tops-out-china-s-raffles-city-chongqing-with-highest-sky-bridge/ |archive-date=1 March 2019 |accessdate=1 March 2019 |website=www.worldconstructionnetwork.com}}</ref><ref name="auto"/>

The buildings are reinforced concrete with concrete-encased steel columns and steel floor spanning. The height to tip is 354.5 metres with 79 above-ground floors and 3 below.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/raffles-city-chongqing-t3n/13610|title=Raffles City Chongqing T3N - The Skyscraper Center|website=www.skyscrapercenter.com|accessdate=1 March 2019}}</ref>

==The Crystal== The Crystal is an enclosed 300-metre-long horizontal skyway that sits atop four of the buildings. The exterior consists of approximately 3,000 glass panels and nearly 5,000 aluminum panels. The Crystal set a record as the highest skybridge in the world linking the most number of towers. It includes an observation deck, park, restaurants, and a private clubhouse. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Maggie Hiufu |date=2020-06-09 |title=Glass-bottom deck opens atop China’s ‘horizontal skyscraper’ |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/the-crystal-raffles-city-chongqing-horizontal-skyscraper |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

==Design and recognition== The project was designed by architect Moshe Safdie, who also designed Singapore's similar-looking Marina Bay Sands.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://wwd.com/feature/raffles-city-chongqing-debut-1203089925/ | title=Marina Bay Sands 2.0? Moshe Safdie Designs New Raffles City Chongqing | date=22 March 2019 }}</ref> It was inspired by Chinese sailing vessels and is a tribute to Chongqing's historical past as a trading centre.<ref name=":0" />

Raffles City Chongqing won the China Tall Building Innovation Award.<ref name=":0" />

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Raffles City Chongqing}} *[https://www.safdiearchitects.com/projects/raffles-city-chongqing Architect's Raffles City Chongqing homepage] *[https://www.capitaland.com/international/en/find-a-property/global-property-listing/retail/raffles-city-chongqing.html Developer's Raffles City Chongqing homepage]

Category:Yuzhong, Chongqing Category:Buildings and structures under construction in China Category:CapitaLand Category:Moshe Safdie buildings Category:Shopping malls in Chongqing Category:Skyscraper hotels in Chongqing Category:Skyscraper office buildings in Chongqing Category:Skyscrapers in Chongqing