China Completes World's Highest Horizontal Skyscraper, 'The Crystal'

Kathmandu. Located at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, 'The Crystal', built in the most densely populated area of China's bustling Chongqing city, is one of the most ambitious architectural projects ever, even by Chinese standards.

Horizon-parallel (horizontal) skyscrapers or skybridges are not new to the world.

The iconic Marina Bay Sands, which is Singapore's identity, and Beijing's Link Hybrid, one of the most impressive buildings in China's capital, are examples of this, but The Crystal is very different and superior to all of them. It is the world's highest horizontal skyscraper, which simultaneously connects the most vertical towers.

The Crystal, developed by CapitaLand, one of Asia's largest real estate companies, had an estimated budget of $1.1 billion. Approximately 3,000 glass panels and 5,000 aluminum pieces were required to decorate its exterior, but joining them all together was the biggest challenge.

This 300-meter-long horizontal skyscraper has seven large sections, some of which were pre-fabricated on the ground and installed 250 meters in the air using high-precision hydraulics. The remaining sections were mounted directly on top of the towers that balance The Crystal.

The steel frame of this world's highest horizontal skyscraper alone weighs 12,000 tons, which can be compared to the weight of the Eiffel Tower. This figure easily conveys the expertise of the architects and engineers who turned this project into reality.

It not only connects the four traditional vertical skyscrapers it occupies but also operates as a habitable and recreational space. One of its main attractions is a glass-floored observation deck spread over 1500 square meters, offering beautiful views of Chongqing city.

This skybridge features rooftop gardens, bars, restaurants, event spaces, and a private club, along with two 50-meter-long infinity pools. The Crystal has been praised as a marvel of architecture and engineering, offering a new solution for increasingly dense urban centers.