China’s long-delayed skyscraper, Goldin Finance 117, nears completion amid property woes
The 596-meter 'ghost tower' gets its crown as state-backed revival aims to stabilize property market.
Goldin Finance 117, the 596-meter skyscraper in Tianjin, China, is finally approaching completion after an 18-year construction saga marked by a near-decade of dormancy. Once labeled the world's tallest abandoned building, the project's recent milestone—the installation of its 7.6-tonne diamond-shaped crown—signals a state-backed push to finish the long-stalled 'ghost tower.' The building's revival, initiated last April, is led by government restructuring and takeover by state investors, transforming it from a symbol of market collapse into a tool for market stabilization.
This completion effort arrives amid persistent struggles in China's broader property sector. The project's new lease on life is explicitly framed as a confidence-building measure, with officials reporting that leasing for the main tower is 'largely completed.' Seventeen companies have committed to space, a mix of seven state-owned enterprises and ten private firms, suggesting coordinated support. The skyscraper's story encapsulates China's retreat from the supertall building boom of the past and the current complex, state-directed attempts to manage a protracted property downturn.
- The 596-meter (1,955 ft) skyscraper, under construction for 18 years, was once the world's tallest abandoned building.
- Construction resumed in April 2025 after a government-led takeover by state-backed investors following nearly a decade of dormancy.
- Leasing is largely complete with 17 companies signed, including 7 state-owned enterprises, positioning it as a confidence-building project.
Why It Matters
The state-led revival of this iconic 'ghost tower' is a high-profile signal aimed at stabilizing confidence in China's crucial but struggling property market.