CCTV Headquarters

Overview

The CCTV Headquarters is a 234-meter architectural icon designed by Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren, featuring a gravity-defying loop form that has become one of the defining images of 21st-century Beijing. Locals affectionately call it the 'Big Underpants.'

Highlights

• The Loop: Two leaning towers joined by a dramatic cantilevered L-shaped overhang, creating a continuous tube that defies structural convention.
• Night Lighting: The building's steel lattice exterior is spectacularly illuminated after dark, its geometric grid glowing against the CBD skyline.
• Engineering Marvel: The structure was one of the most complex engineering challenges in modern architecture, requiring innovative earthquake-resistant design.

History

Completed in 2012 after a competition-winning design by OMA in 2002. Construction was complicated by the 2008 fire that destroyed the adjacent Television Cultural Center. The building houses China Central Television's broadcast operations.

Visitor Tips

• Exterior Only: The building is not open to the public, but is best admired from the surrounding CBD streets and elevated walkways.
• Photo Spot: The best angles are from the east, along Dongsanhuan Road, where the full loop form is visible.
• Duration: 15–30 minutes.