Construction on China’s tallest unoccupied skyscraper, the 597-metre Goldin Finance 117 in Tianjin, is set to resume after nearly 10 years of abandonment following financial turmoil.
Chinese state media report that a new construction permit has been issued, valued at 569 million yuan (approx. $78 million), marking a significant step forward for the stalled project.
The tower, often dubbed the “walking stick” due to its slender profile, began construction in 2008 but was abruptly halted in 2015 following the collapse of Goldin Properties Holdings during China’s stock market crash.
Notably, Goldin’s name has been removed from the latest permit, suggesting a change in ownership or management. The project’s revival is widely seen as part of a broader government-led effort to rebuild investor confidence in the real estate sector.
Designed by P&T Group, the 117-storey tower features earthquake-resistant mega columns, a diamond-shaped atrium, and was initially planned to house a luxury hotel, premium office space, and a sky-high swimming pool and observation deck. It remains unclear if these features will be retained under the new plan.
Once complete in 2027, Goldin Finance 117 will become the third tallest building in China and the sixth tallest globally, although future completions like Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Tower and Dubai’s Burj Azizi could push it further down the rankings.
The project was originally part of a larger development that included villas, a convention centre, and a polo club. While references to “commercial corridors” appear in the new permit, the fate of these auxiliary developments remains uncertain.
The Tianjin revival comes amid renewed work on other high-rise projects, including the 468-metre Chengdu Greenland Tower, reinforcing signs of a coordinated push to stabilise China’s ailing property sector.
