Recently, Dezeen, a leading international architecture and design publication, unveiled its annual list of the Top 10 Chinese Buildings of 2025, with the Greater Bay Area Culture and Sports Centre in Nansha, Guangzhou, earning a distinguished place.
Designed collaboratively by Zaha Hadid Architects and the Architectural Design and Research Institute of Guangdong Province, the centre is a large-scale, multifunctional complex housing a 60,000-seat stadium, a 20,000-seat indoor arena, and a 4,000-capacity aquatics centre.
Completed and inaugurated in 2025, the centre stands out for its innovative design, which draws inspiration from the silhouette of sailing junks from the Song Dynasty. Its flowing, pleated roof—resembling an unfurled traditional paper fan—serves not only as a striking visual signature but also as an integrated environmental system for sun shading and natural ventilation. Dezeen commended the design for its technical ingenuity and thoughtful adaptation to the local subtropical climate.
Following in the footsteps of the iconic Guangzhou Opera House, the project extends Zaha Hadid Architects' signature fluid architectural language while meaningfully incorporating regional cultural motifs. This visionary design was supported by innovative engineering from the construction team, China Construction Fourth Engineering Division Corp, Ltd, which overcame significant challenges such as fabricating and installing custom-shaped structural and piping systems.
Since its opening, the centre has already hosted major events such as the Guangdong–Hong Kong Cup football match and various large-scale performances. It has rapidly established itself as a premier cultural and sports destination within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Author | He Fengyu
Photo | Nanfang Plus
Editor | Wei Shen, James Campion, Shen He
