Since entering the modern era, the Chinese have struggled to combine Chinese architectural principles and Western urban planning and design. China's intense population pressures and urban migration trends have led to the disappearance of traditional Chinese architecture as China makes room for more efficient but less eye-catching buildings.

Modern Chinese architecture generally refers to the architecture built since the middle of the 19th century. It was from the end of the first Opium War in 1842, Western architecture appeared in China with the British access to five Chinese ports. At this time, though Chinese architectural styles still dominated traditional building, new types of buildings such as theaters,

performance halls, restaurants, hotels, offices, and department stores blended Western and Chinese elements. Then, because of war, the modern architecture developed slowly.

After the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, the planned economic system accelerated the development of a “modern” architectural style. The most outstanding representative of “New Communist Buildings Period” style is the Big Ten Buildings for National Celebration. The Great Hall of the People, on the western edge of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, built by volunteers in ten months during 1958 and 1959, is used for legislative and ceremonial activities by the People's Republic of China and the Communist Party of China. It has a floor space of more than 170,000 square meters, including 300 meeting halls, lounges and office rooms and a 10,000-seat auditorium for meetings of the National People’s Congress.

What are features of Chinese modern architecture?

TThere are certain features common to all Chinese architecture, regardless of specific region or use.

Traditionally, Chinese architecture put more emphasis on the width of buildings. Affected by Western architecture, Chinese architecture now tends to grow in height and depth instead. Another important feature is its emphasis on symmetry, which remained a subject from ancient China until now. It connotes a sense of grandeur; which now applies to everything.

The use of certain colors, numbers of the cardinal directions in traditional Chinese architecture reflected the belief in a type of immanence, where the nature of something could be wholly contained in its own form, without reference to a momentary belief. Although the Western tradition gradually developed a body of architectural literature, little was written on the subject in China, and the earliest text was never doubted.

What are styles of Chinese modern architecture?

Socialism style

After the founding of The People's Republic of China, Chinese architecture entered a new historical period. Chinese architecture was greatly influenced by the Soviet Union, during the time when socialism had a significant impact on Chinese architecture. Therefore the architectural style of the Soviet Union was brought into China and was portrayed as some form of art.

Revivalist style

Buildings of this style are basically followed the 20 to 30 years of classical-style approach to local application of roof as the main feature. This widespread abuse across the board to roof to form a new Chinese architecture Yi Gu called revivalist trend. The architecture gets rid from the traditional forms of bondage, simple and refreshing style works well.

National Day style
National Day of China's socialist construction and the construction of a new style to emerge to greet the 10th anniversary of National Day, Beijing, built the Museum of Chinese History, etc. In May 1959, it was the proposing of the "creation of China's socialist construction of a new style" slogan which advocated studying ancient and modern architecture on the basis of all good

things. Its proposal was to create our own new styles, new forms. This has an important political and cultural significance; both of which commemorate how complex the architectural designs for the new age are and their need for large spaces.

Guangzhou style

It rises in the early 60s, China was in the economic adjustment period, and the non-productive construction came ultimately to a standstill. From the mid-60s to mid 70s, architectural design was seriously destroyed, Guangzhou, construction workers carried out under extremely difficult conditions, a small amount of construction activity, and the architectural creation in Lengji Garden

in Guangzhou. They are creative in the organic blend of modern architecture with traditional features in the courtyard, gardens, created a rich modern, another implication of building strong nationalistic mood, forming an eye-catching style of Guangzhou. Guangzhou-style rose, breaking the long-standing body mass composition by Western classical and traditional decorative elements. This shaped the national method of modeling features whereby limitations began to create a modern design approach with national implication of building space environment.

Multi-style
Multi-style was a trend in the 80's, along with the adjustment of the national economy, building showed the healthy development of architecture. The introduction of foreign capital, foreign materials and equipment, foreign design, architectural theory extensively abroad, and further activity in the construction of academic ideas and building creative ideas. The new architecture was presented with a variety of patterns in very different styles. Buildings from these modern design methods opened a new chapter in the emergence of new

What is the culture of Chinese modern architecture?

Architecture and culture are tightly related to each other. In a sense, architecture is the carrier of culture. Chinese people practice all things in moderation and they don't lay emphasis on strong self-expression but seek modesty and gentleness. The influence of this spirit on architecture is characterized by pursuing sense and connotation. Usually, the front of Chinese architecture is simply plain walls that cannot catch your eyes, but when you walk inside, you will find the most amazing feature is waiting far inside like a shy girl slowly uncovering her veil.

What are representatives of Chinese modern architecture?

Bird's Nest stadium

The Beijing National Stadium known as Bird's Nest stadium. It was constructed for 2008 Summer Olympic. It is the main stadium of the 29th Olympiad in 2008. Occupying an area of 21 hectares, it has a floor space of 258,000 square meters. Its seating capacity amounts to 91,000, including 11,000 temporary seats.

Beijing National Aquatics Center
The Beijing National Aquatics Centre, also known as the Water Cube, was initially designed by PTW Architects from Sydney, Australia and CSCEC (China State Construction Engineering Corporation) International Design and Arup. The Aquatics Centre will host the Swimming, Diving, Synchronized Swimming, and Water Polo events during the Olympics. As one of the three

symbolic buildings for the 2008 Olympic Games, it is the only Olympic stadium donated by the Chinese from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

Great Hall of the People
The Great Hall of the People is located at the West Chang’an Road and the western edge of Tiananmen Square, Beijing, and is used for legislative and ceremonial activities by the People's Republic of China and the Communist Party of China. It also works as the office of National People’s Congress and

New CCTV Broadcasting Center

The total built-up area is about 550,000 square kilometers. The tallest building is about 230 meters. It has a unique appearance of an S-shaped side view and an O-shaped view from front.

Shanghai World Finance Center
Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, an expert in structure from New York, spent two and a half years to design Shanghai World Finance Center. This tower will reach a new world record of 429 meters when completed.

The Chinese modern architecture reflects political and economic issues, rather than ethnic or climatic concerns. Nowadays, China has one of the most powerful economies of the world. It can be witnessed through the impressive increase of

modern buildings and skyscrapers. Places like Shanghai or Guangzhou are creating their new modern architectural style.