Dragon tower touches sky in Hengqin Shizimen CBD

The main structure of the sinuous "Nine Dragons" Hengqin International Financial Center (IFC Tower) was topped out in Shizimen Central Business District on May 23, a key step toward completing Zhuhai's tallest skyscraper by January.

Designed by Aedas, a leading international architecture and design practice founded in Hong Kong, the tower and connected facilities have total floorage of 218,000 sq m (54 acres) and height of 337 m, (1,106 ft) -- 7 m (23 ft) taller than the 330-m (1,082-ft) "Fish Leaping From Water" Zhuhai Tower in the neighborhood -- the city's current record-holder.

Under construction since November 2016 at a cost of 1.8 billion yuan ($282 million), the office and apartment tower located in Hengqin New Area has finally come into shape.

Aedas was inspired in its design by "Nine Dragons," a masterpiece by Chen Rong (1200-66), one of the Southern Song Dynasty's great painters. It depicts "nine ferocious dragons rolling, swimming, writhing, and dancing among clouds, mist, waves, fires and cliffs." Aedas has said that as the mass rises, it splits into four tower components designed to symbolize the convergence of talents of Zhuhai, Macao, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen. And so, the tower overlooks Macao above the water and looms on the horizon of the fast-developing Greater Bay Area.

On the .2 sq km (53 acres) of floorage in its 72 stories (including four underground), the building will contain first-class conference, commercial, and exhibition facilities.

Designer's impression [Photo courtesy aasarchitecture.com]