Two landmark buildings in Chongqing Municipality’s Chaotianmen are no more. On Thursday, a pair of 107.2-meter (352 feet) skyscrapers — the Three Gorges Hotel and a passenger port — became the highest in China to go kablooey. These 32-story structures released 63,000 cubic meters of debris in front of hundreds (thousands?) of eager onlookers.
No need to weep for these twin edifices though. This month, construction will begin on Chaotianmen’s new landmark, Chaotian Yangfan, which will be a high-end mall, town plaza, transportation hub, tourist destination, and all-around modern urban complex. In so many words: a mark of contemporary China. Youku video for those in China after the jump.
ITN has several other views of the implosion (YouTube / Youku).
(H/T Alicia)