Often regarded as the
Number 1 Village in China, the Huaxi village in Jiangyin [Jiangsu Province] is the richest village in China with average per capita income several times that of the national average. Heralded as a successful example of a communist style commune, the transformation of Huaxi village was the brainchild of former village Party Secretary Wu Renbao who along with his sons created a prosperous community modeled on both communism and capitalism. The recent construction of a 328m or 1076ft tall skyscraper in Huaxi village led to some netizens questioning the huge costs associated with its construction especially in a rural village. While others believed Huaxi village could be a model of development for villages across China.
From Tiexue:
Designed in accord with a 5-star hotel standard, with a construction area of 200,000 square meters, it can accommodate more than 2000 residents, with a dining capacity of 3000, and having the largest 360 degree revolving restaurant in Asia. Inside the building contain 35 elevators, with speeds of 10 meter per second, the fastest in the world, in addition to having the worlds most advanced monitoring and fire safety equipment.
You must be having a hard time imagining that a socialist new village is building this soon-to-be completed luxury tower.
In Jiangyin Huaxi village, this building with height ranked number 8 in China, and number 15 in the world will be completed in June of this year.
January 3rd, the newly re-elected Huaxi village party secretary Wu Xieen stated, this building designed with a height of 328 m and 74 floors will require an investment of RMB 2.5 billion, predicted to be operational by 2011 during the 50th anniversary of the village, by that time Huaxi will have a new landmark.
People marvel at the luxurious amenities in this building. Designed in accord with a 5-star hotel, with a construction area of 200,000 square meters, a total of 74 floors, height of 328 meters, and ranking 15th in the world by height, and 8th nationally.
The tower can accommodate 2000 residents, 3000 simultaneous diners, and in addition, it has a 360 degree revolving restaurant that provides space for 500 guests, it will be the largest revolving restaurant in Asia.
The tower has five sky gardens with five levels in accordance with the Five Elements of Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth as each levels theme. Inside contain 35 elevators, with speeds of faster than 10 meters per second, among the top in the world. The form of the tower will be the shape of a Three-footed tripod, the center will top out with a 50-meter sphere, as if it is a dazzling pearl.
The tower is also named The new village in the sky with a special meaning attached. Wi Xieen said,
Peoples impressions of rural villages were always low-rise buildings, now we must make a breakthrough, even rural villages can break this old impression and create a village in the sky.
After investigation, this tower originally was planned to cost RMB 1.5 billion, but from the looks of the current situation, after renovations and decorations, it will cost at least RMB 2.5 billion to complete.
But this 2.5 billion will not be detrimental to the interests of Huaxi, Wu Xieen said, the towers investments are sound, because these 2.5 billion are not invested in a year, and Huaxis annual usable funds amounts to 3 billion RMB. Even if you invest it all in, it will still have 500 million remaining, it will not affect other investments in education, health care, etc.
Wu Xieen described that Huaxi building this tower also included longer-term considerations, that this is the symbol of Huaxi stepping into the world stage, that In the future it will attract people from all over the world to visit the Huaxi tower. After his re-election, he will continue to adjust Huaxis productivity, Huaxi today have five major pillars of industry: agriculture, industry, commerce, construction, and tourism. In the future, more will be directed toward tertiary industry such as tourism.
As the tourism industry geared toward environmental awareness, it will be the major direction for Huaxis development. Today, those who visits Huaxi numbered as low as several thousand and as high as tens of thousands. The completion of the tower will bring forth new attractions toward the tourism industry in Huaxi.
The tower is also meant to save on land use and land resources. Today the towers total area is around 200,000 square meters, can accommodate 2000 people, the related person in charge at Huaxi described, this is a dual-use residential and commercial tower, Huaxi village is not building mansions and high-rise buildings. After completion of the tower, over 200 village households will move into this building. If all these villagers build mansions, the required land would have been between 150mu to 200mu [1 mu= .1647 acres], while the entire footprint of the tower will not be more than 20mu.
After 200 villagers move in, they will enjoy 24-hour hotel style service; on average every household have 100 square meters of space. Of course, those 200 households who can move into this tower will have some financial basis, a related person in charge said, as they would be amongst Huaxis higher income levels, because these 200 households all invested 5 million in the construction of the building.
Huaxi is not building towers for the sake of building towers, we have this capacity, Wu Xieen said. Their development is reaching a new stage. In plans for the next 3 years, Huaxi will accumulate funds of 10 billion.
After 2011, we will devote our attention to the construction of the Huaxi Dragon Tower. This towers location is initially set in Jiangyin. The overall area will be 480,000 square meters; the construction area will be 600,000 square meters,
with a total of 118 floors, 538 meters tall. Total investment amounts to RMB 6 billion, with 600 shares, 10 million RMB per share, Huaxi controlling 50% (300), with the other half coming from outside funds.
This tower is prepared to take 12 years to complete (to be ready for use during the 60th anniversary of the village). The yearly investments only amount to 2.5 billion, for Huaxi, this is nothing, and we can fully bear it. Today, the tower is in the discussion stages. It is estimated the approval and design phase will take 1 year. Just the design costs will be over 100 million.
In addition, Huaxi will also introduce other major projects, a 71-meter (17 floors), 7 sided, multiple shaped tower called Huaxi National Park. 71 meters, symbolizing July 1st founding of the Chinese Communist Party. 7″ sides with each side having 8 doors, to form seven times eight equals fifty-six or the unity of the 56 ethnicities in China.
