China World Yi Er San

I am posting here a few pictures of the complex where Paul is working. It is called China World, and has 2 office towers, an underground upscale shopping mall (including a skating ring), two hotels, some convention spaces, two Starbucks coffee shops, etc, etc. A third tower is under construction. It will be, when completed, the highest building in Beijing. Paul's office, on the 16th and 17th floor of Tower 2 (also known as Guo Mao Er or 国贸二), has a great view of the new CCTV tower.

De Guo Mao Yi Er San

You can see from left to right, Guo Mao Yi, Er and San (one, two and three).

De Guo Mao Yi Er San

The now famous CCTV tower, also renamed as the "trousers" by taxi drivers, designed by Rem Koolhas is standing across from the third ring road.

De Guo Mao Yi Er San

De Guo Mao Yi Er San

On clear skies days, there is quite an interesting view of the area. In the distance, you can notice a set of pink low rise buildings. These are the typical Beijing apartments. They are found all over the city. From this picture it is possible to see how they are outscaled now by the surrounding new constructions. A few more years and they probably will be replaced by new taller, more expensive and more sleek buildings (unless the economical crisis persists).  

De Guo Mao Yi Er San

Also a view of the Third Ring Road on a beautiful clear sky day. And below, same view, on a no-so-good day (last Monday, a week after the first photo!). With the cold season, coal heating is contributing a great deal to the pollution levels. 

De Guo Mao Yi Er San