5 incredible buildings you must see in Beijing – shades of style & flamboyance!

Depicting a concrete mountain range of sorts and nestled between the city centre and Beijing Airport, Wangjing SOHO comes off as a classic example of modern thinking and engineering ingenuity. Made up of 43 storeys that include retail spaces, interweaving offices and pavilions to check out, Wangjing SOHO is the brainchild of the late British-Iraqi architect, Zaha Hadid. Commissioned by China's largest office property developer, SOHO China; the beauty of this edifice is that it would appear as one single unit or as a collection of buildings based on the vantage point.

Jutting out from the hustle and bustle of the city's central business district would be a sight for sore eyes; the silver-grey exterior of the headquarters of China Central Television. Hard to ignore and miss when out and about within Beijing's commercial centre, the construction rises to a staggering 767 feet in the air and comes complete with 51 storeys. What makes the building stand out is the fact that it features two leaning towers that meet at a perpendicular cantilever loop some 246 feet above the ground. Thus, it is fondly nicknamed "big pants" owing to this design element which was brought to life by Ole Scheeren and Rem Koolhaas of OMA for USD 900 million.

Hugging a portion along East Fourth Ring Road in Beijing's Chaoyang District, Linda Haiyu Plaza comprises a long list of buildings each serving its purpose. Resembling the distinct characteristics of a fish in its entirety, Linda Haiyu Plaza is a stunning complex that covers an astonishing 259,186 square feet. Found within its four walls is a 19-storey office building, 15-storey apartment units, 2 5-storey business centres and a charming 20-storey hotel that combine in affording convenience and comfort from start to end. Added to this, the visitor will find plenty of reasons to remain here for the Plaza allows access to a marine fishing park, supermarket and a restaurant that serves tasty and wholesome local fare.

Considered a work of architectural brilliance well ahead of its time, the National Stadium built primarily to host the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing certainly does hold its own on this list of incredible buildings that you must look out for when touring through the city. Part of its popularity can be attributed to the steel façade which was brought into its design to resemble a bird's nest while its steel roof shaped in the form of a saddle cannot be ignored at any cost. This 91-seater stadium which witnessed the world's best athletes put on one grand show was the result of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei and the Swiss design team of Pierre de Meuron and Jacques Herzog. In fact, those considering being based at Pan Pacific Beijing which is one of the hotels in Beijing China found near the National Stadium can expect to tour the Olympic torch platform and make for the walkways located on the roof from where sweeping views of the city can be enjoyed.

Located a stone's throw from Tiananmen Square are the National Centre for the Performing Arts which bears evidence of a glass and titanium ellipsoid which is 472 feet wide, 698 feet long and a further 150 feet in height. In terms of the value additions that find refuge at the Centre, a 1,040-seat theatre, a 2,017-seat concert hall together with a 2,416-seat opera house pay tribute to a symbol of stupendous craft and imagination. A private guided tour (USD 28) would serve one's interests best that will see to it that you are escorted to every corner of the Centre. Before you leave, be mindful to pick up a souvenir or two from the souvenir shop or have a bite to eat at the restaurant.