The Chinese leadership has called for less "weird architecture" to be built in the country. President Xi Jinping spoke at a symposium in Beijing last week and <a href="http://news.wenweipo.com/2014/10/16/IN1410160085.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank">Chinese media have widely reported</a> his appeal for less ostentatious structures in China's skylines. <br /><br />The comments were posted on the social media account of state media People's Daily on October 16, but have since been erased. It was enough to spark widespread debate on whether Xi's remarks spell the end of an era of ambitious architectural design in China, such as this teapot-shaped building in Wuxi. The Wuxi Wanda Cultural Tourism City Exhibition Center officially opened on March 16 and celebrates the area's famous clay vessels.
Is this the end of ambitious Chinese architecture? —
The Chinese leadership has called for less "weird architecture" to be built in the country. President Xi Jinping spoke at a symposium in Beijing last week and Chinese media have widely reported his appeal for less ostentatious structures in China's skylines.

The comments were posted on the social media account of state media People's Daily on October 16, but have since been erased. It was enough to spark widespread debate on whether Xi's remarks spell the end of an era of ambitious architectural design in China, such as this teapot-shaped building in Wuxi. The Wuxi Wanda Cultural Tourism City Exhibition Center officially opened on March 16 and celebrates the area's famous clay vessels.
Courtesy Wanda Group
In his speech, Xi called out such iconic buildings as the Rem Koolhaas designed CCTV headquarters, which has been nicknamed "The Big Pants" for its resemblance to trousers. The Chinese president hopes that similar "weird" structures will no longer show up in cities.<br /><br /><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/07/travel/great-towns-architecture/index.html">MORE: 10 great towns, villages and neighborhoods for architecture buffs</a>
Chinese architecture: Spectacular, or weird? —
In his speech, Xi called out such iconic buildings as the Rem Koolhaas designed CCTV headquarters, which has been nicknamed "The Big Pants" for its resemblance to trousers. The Chinese president hopes that similar "weird" structures will no longer show up in cities.

MORE: 10 great towns, villages and neighborhoods for architecture buffs
Ed Jones/ AFP/ Getty Images
The CCTV tower by day.
Is this the end of ambitious Chinese architecture? —
The CCTV tower by day.
Eric Gregory Powell
The People's Daily Headquarters in Beijing was also made fun of by citizens, while mid-construction. A doctored photo of the phallic building superimposed under the CCTV's "pants" went viral on the Internet before censors clamped down last year.
Chinese architecture: Spectacular, or weird? —
The People's Daily Headquarters in Beijing was also made fun of by citizens, while mid-construction. A doctored photo of the phallic building superimposed under the CCTV's "pants" went viral on the Internet before censors clamped down last year.
Mark Ralston/ AFP/ Getty Images
Xi's comments throw into doubt the future of architectural designs such as the Phoenix Towers. Planned for construction in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, the towers will be the tallest in the world at one kilometer high, if completed on schedule by 2017/2018. Touted as incredibly environmentally friendly and futuristic, the towers will also stand out for its bright pink hue, a reflection of "the spectacular colors of the sunsets in the region," Laurie Chetwood of UK-based design firm Chetwoods Architects <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/24/travel/phoenix-towers-worlds-tallest/">told CNN</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/28/travel/world-architecture-festival-2014/index.html">MORE: Spectacular buildings from Singapore's World Architecture Festival</a>
Is this the end of ambitious Chinese architecture? —
Xi's comments throw into doubt the future of architectural designs such as the Phoenix Towers. Planned for construction in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, the towers will be the tallest in the world at one kilometer high, if completed on schedule by 2017/2018. Touted as incredibly environmentally friendly and futuristic, the towers will also stand out for its bright pink hue, a reflection of "the spectacular colors of the sunsets in the region," Laurie Chetwood of UK-based design firm Chetwoods Architects told CNN.

MORE: Spectacular buildings from Singapore's World Architecture Festival
courtesy Chetwoods Architects
Other memorable architectural designs already realized in China include the Guangzhou Circle, home to the Guangdong Plastic Exchange. According to Italian architecture firm A.M. Progetti, the design is inspired by ancient jade discs.
Other memorable architectural designs already realized in China include the Guangzhou Circle, home to the Guangdong Plastic Exchange. According to Italian architecture firm A.M. Progetti, the design is inspired by ancient jade discs.
Courtesy Joseph di Pasquale
The hole in the middle is almost fifty meters in diameter and is filled by gardens.
Is this the end of ambitious Chinese architecture? —
The hole in the middle is almost fifty meters in diameter and is filled by gardens.
Courtesy Joseph di Pasquale
The Gate of the Orient in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, stands more than 300 meters tall and has been compared to a pair of long johns.
The Gate of the Orient in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, stands more than 300 meters tall and has been compared to a pair of long johns.
Admittedly, it did look quite spectacular in the artist renderings.
Is this the end of ambitious Chinese architecture? —
Admittedly, it did look quite spectacular in the artist renderings.
RMJM
The Sunrise Kempinski Hotel on Beijing's Yanqi Lake is one of the most anticipated hotel projects in the Chinese capital. Opening mid-November, the spherical structure has a private marina and is lit up by hydroelectric-powered LED lights.<br /><br /><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/05/travel/beijing-new-kempinski-hotel/index.html">MORE: Is this the most incredible hotel to open this year?</a>
The Sunrise Kempinski Hotel on Beijing's Yanqi Lake is one of the most anticipated hotel projects in the Chinese capital. Opening mid-November, the spherical structure has a private marina and is lit up by hydroelectric-powered LED lights.

MORE: Is this the most incredible hotel to open this year?
courtesy kempinski
The Wangjing SOHO project in Beijing was designed by Pritzker Prize laureate Zaha Hadid who took inspiration from Chinese fans. Critics however see the curvaceous towers as a bunch of pebbles thrown together.
Chinese architecture: Spectacular, or weird? —
The Wangjing SOHO project in Beijing was designed by Pritzker Prize laureate Zaha Hadid who took inspiration from Chinese fans. Critics however see the curvaceous towers as a bunch of pebbles thrown together.
From wangjingsoho.sohochina.com
Another building from the imagination of Zaha Hadid and her team. The fifth hotel tower of Macau's sprawling City of Dreams complex is meant to evoke an abstract lucky number 8. It is a great example of Hadid's signature lack-of-corners architectural style.
Another building from the imagination of Zaha Hadid and her team. The fifth hotel tower of Macau's sprawling City of Dreams complex is meant to evoke an abstract lucky number 8. It is a great example of Hadid's signature lack-of-corners architectural style.
courtesy Melcro Crown entertainment
A horseshoe may be seen as lucky for some and comedic fodder for others. The $1.5 billion Sheraton in Huzhou, Zhejiang province is famed for its unusual design. The area was also the location for scenes from Oscar-winning movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."
A horseshoe may be seen as lucky for some and comedic fodder for others. The $1.5 billion Sheraton in Huzhou, Zhejiang province is famed for its unusual design. The area was also the location for scenes from Oscar-winning movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."
courtesy sheraton
Opened in 2013, Langham Place's exterior is designed to resemble unfolding wings in action, "evoking a sense of freedom and space," according to a hotel spokesperson. It also has the city's biggest ballroom. <br /><br /><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/11/travel/gallery/china-new-hotels/">MORE: Gallery: China's crop of outrageous new hotel designs</a>
Is this the end of ambitious Chinese architecture? —
Opened in 2013, Langham Place's exterior is designed to resemble unfolding wings in action, "evoking a sense of freedom and space," according to a hotel spokesperson. It also has the city's biggest ballroom.

MORE: Gallery: China's crop of outrageous new hotel designs
courtesy Langham Place