CCTV Headquarters

CCTV Headquarters is the Beijing headquarters of China Central Television located in the Central Business District of Beijing. It is notable for its striking continuous loop form, an unconventional tower design by the OMA practice led by Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren.

As an active broadcast and office complex, the building interior is not a typical tourist attraction; the architectural interest is primarily external. Photographers and architecture enthusiasts concentrate on the dramatic cantilevers and the way the two leaning sections meet to form a horizontal section, which creates the building’s distinctive silhouette.

The design was commissioned in the early 21st century to consolidate CCTV operations in Beijing and to provide large, interconnected office and technical spaces. Construction and fitting out took place across the 2000s and the building has been a high-profile element of Beijing’s modern skyline since completion.

The tower sits in Beijing’s central business district in Chaoyang, east of the historic city centre. It is part of the high-rise cluster near other media and office developments and is reachable from central Beijing by road and public transport.

• Best Views: The building is best appreciated from surrounding streets and plazas where its continuous loop shape and large cantilevered sections are visible; pedestrian viewpoints on the plaza north of the structure provide clear photographs.