Mori's 'Vertical Garden City' Opens Far Above Shanghai

After 14 years of struggle, controversy, and redesigns, Mori Building's Shanghai World Financial Center is China's tallest skyscraper

Minoru Mori, President and CEO of Mori Building, speaks during a press conference for the inauguration of Shanghai World Financial Center, China's tallest building, on August 28, 2008 in Shanghai, China. China Photos/Getty Images

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Chi-Chu Tschang

August 29, 2008 at 5:52 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

On Aug. 30, Japanese visionary real estate developer Minoru Mori will unveil his latest project: the 101-story Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC). The 1,614-foot tall, bottle opener-shaped skyscraper, which towers over Shanghai's other skyscrapers in the Pudong financial district, holds the title of tallest building in China.

For Mori, SWFC's ribbon cutting will be a moment of triumph and vindication. He first started work on what was planned to be the world's tallest building in 1994, when there were more farmers than bankers living in Pudong district. The project was put on hold, first by the Asian financial crisis, then by September 11, then SARS. Some of the original Japanese investors got cold feet and bailed out. Mori bought out their equity, raising his stake in SWFC to 80% from 30%. In the meantime, Taipei and Dubai have erected taller skyscrapers.