Tianjin’s Goldin 117 ‘Ghost Tower’ to Rise After 10 Years

Construction of the 597-metre-tall Goldin Finance 117 in Tianjin, China — the world’s tallest unoccupied skyscraper — is set to resume after nearly 10 years, following a financial collapse.

According to Chinese state media, a new construction permit has been issued, citing a contract value of 569 million yuan (approx. $78 million). 

The project, which broke ground in 2008 and halted in 2015 following the stock market crash, was originally led by Goldin Properties Holdings, now defunct. 

Reports suggest the company’s name has been removed from the new permit, indicating a potential change in ownership or control.

Designed by P&T Group, the 117-storey “walking stick” tower was built with seismic-resistant mega columns and features a diamond-shaped atrium intended to house a swimming pool and observation deck. 

The upper floors were originally slated for a five-star hotel and premium office space, though it remains unclear if these plans are still in place.

The tower was once projected to be the tallest in China but now ranks third nationally and will become the sixth tallest in the world once completed in 2027. Its completion could drop to eighth globally if Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Tower and Dubai’s Burj Azizi finish later this decade.

Urban experts say the revival of Goldin 117 is part of a broader state effort to restore confidence in China’s real estate sector.

“The government at least hopes it can increase people’s confidence,” said Prof. Qiao Shitong, noting the state may have facilitated investment and debt restructuring to restart the project.

The skyscraper was initially part of a larger master plan that included villas, a convention centre, entertainment spaces, and a polo club. The new permit reportedly includes reference to “commercial corridors,” but the fate of the original surrounding developments is unclear.

Construction is also resuming on another stalled tower — the 468-metre Chengdu Greenland Tower — signalling coordinated moves by the government to stabilise the struggling sector. 

However, experts warn this does not indicate a return to the high-risk “vanity projects” of the past. “The general urban development trend has not changed,” said Fei Chen of the University of Liverpool.

Despite market pressures and a 2020 ban on new towers over 500 metres, China remains the dominant force in global high-rise construction — completing 91 of the 133 towers above 200 metres built worldwide last year.

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