China’s Tallest Abandoned Skyscraper Gets a Restart

In the world of civil engineering and urban development, skyscrapers often stand as monuments to ambition, power, and progress. Yet in China’s northern port city of Tianjin, the 597-meter Goldin Finance 117 tower — once poised to be the nation’s tallest — has spent nearly a decade as a silent and abandoned shell. Dubbed the “walking stick” for its slender silhouette topped by a diamond-shaped atrium, the tower broke ground in 2008 and topped out in 2015, only to be abruptly halted following the Chinese stock market crash that year.

Now, in 2025, the Chinese government has issued a $78 million permit to resume construction on the unfinished skyscraper, signaling more than a revival of steel and concrete. It is a calculated effort to re-stabilize China’s property sector and rebuild confidence in its urban economy. Managed by state-owned BGI Engineering Consultants, the project is slated for completion in 2027, but questions loom large — not only about its feasibility, but also its future function in a radically changed real estate market.

Originally envisioned as a high-rise fusion of office zones and a luxury five-star hotel, the Goldin Finance 117 boasts earthquake- and wind-resistant mega columns, a swimming pool within its atrium, and a sleek diamond crown visible from kilometers away. But despite its engineering grandeur, the tower has also become a cautionary tale.

Its original developer, Goldin Properties Holdings, went into liquidation after the financial crisis. Since then, China’s real estate sector has only grown more fragile. Vacancy rates have soared, and speculative financing that once fueled such mega-projects has been sharply reined in. The Goldin Tower’s rebirth may help polish Tianjin’s skyline, but it does not solve the pressing question: who will fill its 117 floors?

State media has avoided detailing the building’s revised purpose, leaving open whether it will remain a commercial project or shift toward mixed-use redevelopment. Either way, urban planners and civil engineers alike are closely watching how the government balances architectural spectacle with practical, sustainable urban growth.

The decision to restart Goldin Finance 117’s construction is part of a broader state strategy. Projects like the stalled Chengdu Greenland Tower are also being reactivated, not just to complete structures but to spark momentum in local economies. According to experts, these moves aren’t just about finishing unfinished business — they are powerful symbols meant to reassure investors, attract development to surrounding areas, and reaffirm local governance effectiveness.

However, sustainability concerns remain front and center. Skyscrapers of this scale consume vast resources and energy, and without guaranteed long-term occupancy, their carbon footprint and financial viability remain questionable. As cities worldwide grapple with post-pandemic urban needs, the emphasis is increasingly on flexibility, mixed-use design, and adaptive reuse — not just height for the sake of prestige.

Check out the following video discussing in the story behind the abandonment of the 600m skyscraper.