Tianjin Milestone as Goldin Finance 117 Crown Installation Signals End of 18 Year Delay

Tianjin's 596-meter "ghost skyscraper" hits a major milestone with crown installation as construction resumes for a 2027 finish.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 10, 2026, 7:06 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Newsweek

Engineering Achievement Marks Turnaround for Ghost Skyscraper

Workers in Tianjin have successfully hoisted a 7.6-tonne steel crown onto the summit of Goldin Finance 117, signaling a definitive end to nearly a decade of dormancy for the 596-meter structure. The diamond-shaped architectural feature was installed in late March 2026, representing the most significant milestone since construction resumed last April under a 569 million yuan revitalization contract. This move effectively transitions the "China 117 Tower" from a symbol of real estate stagnation to an active engineering project, as the city aims to eliminate the visual and economic burden of what has long been labeled the world's tallest "ghost skyscraper."

Financial Collapse and a Decade of Dormancy

The skyscraper’s history is a cautionary tale of the 2015 Chinese stock market crash, which devastated the project's original developer, Hong Kong-based Goldin Properties. Construction originally broke ground on August 18, 2008, but work was halted in December 2015 when the firm faced severe liquidity crises following the market downturn. The building stood largely untouched for years, eventually earning a Guinness World Record in September 2015 for its height of 595.5 meters without occupancy. This prolonged pause was indicative of wider economic pressures that prompted Beijing to eventually ban the construction of new buildings exceeding 500 meters in height.

Strategic State Intervention and Market Recovery

The revival of the project is part of a broader governmental strategy to stabilize the real estate sector and restore investor confidence in major urban landmarks. In early 2026, Tianjin Municipal Party Secretary Chen Min’er and Mayor Zhang Gong led discussions with state-owned giants, including CITIC Group and China State Construction Engineering Corporation, to finalize the "117 Project" revitalization plan. According to academic observers, these state-led efforts are intended to signal a recovery in the national property market by ensuring that high-profile, partially finished assets do not remain as permanent eyesores or wasted capital investments.