Ningbo Center rises over the skyline of Ningbo, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Yang Hui for Ningbo Daily]

The 409-meter Ningbo Center lit up the skyline for the first time in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on the night of April 9.

At 409 meters tall, Ningbo Center is the first building in Zhejiang province to exceed the 400-meter mark.

The building has a total construction area of around 250,000 square meters. It consists of 80 floors aboveground and three underground, with the first 60 floors being offices.

Floors 61 to 80 will house a Ritz-Carlton hotel, which is currently under full interior construction and is expected to open in the second half of 2026.

The tower's design was inspired by the image of a lotus flower. Its shape resembles a bud rising from water at dawn, with petals unfolding upward.

Ningbo Center rises over the skyline of Ningbo, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Yang Hui for Ningbo Daily]

Construction began in December 2018. In November 2020, the underground structure emerged above ground. By April 2023, the central core structure had reached its final height of 375.85 meters. In April, the tower's crown truss was installed, shaping the top into a lotus-like form.

The project faced many challenges, including a small site, complex surroundings, high technical demands, tight deadlines, and difficult construction conditions.

Despite the challenges, it has broken several records. The tower's foundation piles reach 110 meters deep — the deepest in Ningbo. It also contains the fastest elevators in the province, with a speed of 10 meters per second.