A effect picture of the Shanghai Center

Construction will begin on Saturday on China's tallest building - a 632-meter skyscraper named the Shanghai Center.

"The Shanghai Center is expected to increase domestic demand and economic growth amid the worldwide financial crisis," said Kong Qingwei, board chairman of the Shanghai Center Construction and Development Co., Ltd.

The center will be taller than the other two most famous skyscrapers in Shanghai, the 420.5-meter-tall Jin Mao Tower completed in 1999 and the 492-meter-tall Shanghai World Financial Center finished in this August, which occupy adjacent sites in the central financial district of Lujiazui.

The building will be completed in 2014 costing more than 14.8 billion yuan (about US$2.2 billion), the company said.

Designed by Gensler, an American firm, the new landmark will twist as it rises and be surrounded by an outer glass wall.

"The building is designed to be environmental friendly," said Wang Wei, director of the Engineering Center for Green Construction, Ministry of Construction.

The design by Gensler termed "Dragon" was chosen from many candidates in June. The tower will feature nine gardens between the main building and the glass wall. A public park will also be in the building.

(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2008)