China Unveils Massive Building — With Fake Beach, Fake Sun
A view of the New Century Global Center in Chengdu, China. The structure — located in a suburb of Chengdu, in southwest China's Sichuan province — is home to an indoor beach and a faux Mediterranean village. Barcroft Media/Landov hide caption
A view of the New Century Global Center in Chengdu, China. The structure — located in a suburb of Chengdu, in southwest China's Sichuan province — is home to an indoor beach and a faux Mediterranean village.
Barcroft Media/LandovThe Chinese are calling the New Century Global Center, which opened in late June in Chengdu, the world's largest stand-alone structure.
A view of a section of the Paradise Island Water Park, which features an artificial beach, in the New Century Global Center in Chengdu, China. Barcroft Media/Landov hide caption
Inside, visitors can shop, stay at either of two 1,000-room luxury hotels, go to a skating rink, or even a fake beach or fake Mediterranean village all lit by a fake sun.
It isn't the world's tallest building — that honor belongs to Dubai's Burj Khalifa; nor is it the largest — that's the Boeing Everett Factory in Everett, Wash. What the New Century Global Center appears to be is the world's biggest building by floor space. Just how big is it?
Well, inside it you can fit ...
... 20 of these
Sydney Opera House in Australia David Davies/PA Photos/Landov hide caption
Sydney Opera House in Australia
David Davies/PA Photos/Landovfour of these ...
St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Matteo Losito/AP hide caption
St. Peter's Square at the Vatican
Matteo Losito/APand three of these ...
The Pentagon building, outside Washington, D.C. Jason Reed/Reuters/Landov hide caption
The Pentagon building, outside Washington, D.C.
Jason Reed/Reuters/LandovNow, if the name Chengdu, China, sounds familiar, it's probably because you recall it as the scene of the devastating earthquake in 2008, which killed nearly 70,000 people. Much of that area has been rebuilt in the five years after the quake — with mixed results.