(Photo: BBC)
With Nanjing, the most populated city in China now, the online world of China is currently colored with humorous remarks and liveliness brought by a discussion on an architectural wonder project. This March, the NN, a train station known as the symbol of the urban flower Nanjing, was more popular than imagined; it resembles a sanitary napkin.
Nanjing's Architectural Amusement
Of course, the local authorities try to be complimentary of the station's appearance and usage of plum blossoms' elegance, but Weibo internet users are putting this theory to the test; they joke and are indignant at how much the fruits of feminine hygiene are being imitated. One comment quipped, "This is a giant sanitary pad. It's embarrassing to say it looks like a plum blossom." Another user humorously pondered, "Why can we all tell it is a sanitary pad immediately, but the architects can't?"
The topic has garnered millions of views across various Chinese social media channels, with some users seizing the opportunity to advocate against period shaming. "I think we should take this chance to call for society to pay attention to period shaming. This design is ahead of its time," remarked one user in jest.
Official Approval and Construction Plans
While the meme in question delivered many online jokes, the shanghai design of North Nanjing station has earned official approval from the government of Jiangsu province and China State Railway Group. The estimated date of the beginning of the construction is reported to be in the first quarter of 2024 by various local media.
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Architectural Anecdotes in Chinese History
It is not the case that the North Nanjing train station construction project is just a routine undertaking of design and architecture; instead, it is a mega project (excellent scale and ambition) of never-before-seen dimensions. Indeed, as Nanjing Daily reports, a cost of £2.7 billion ($2.7 billion) is projected, which indicates that this significant initiative is definitely in line with the city's skyline and infrastructure development. The station's footprint will measure up to 37.6 square kilometers (or 14 square miles), not to mention all the vibration and amenities that will be present for the convenience of commuters, travelers, and other stakeholders. On the heebs of 2024 1st semester, construction to begin the building and the yearning for a proud structure in Nanjing starts to grow stronger.
Symbolism and Significance
This is not the first instance in Chinese history when an architectural attempt to get close to nature had such an impact on the general public opinion. The Chinese underground state-owned television broadcaster CCTV headquarters office building in the capital, Beijing, is one of the examples that comes to mind as the embodiment of the country's alternative architectural design that has become a colorful element of contemporary Chinese urban scenery.
While the plum blossom-style train station of Nanjing is still in progress and expected to be opened soon, it symbolizes the junction between artwork, design, and public acceptance—a delicate route that architects and urban fabric planners have to pass through as they try to build the cities of the future.
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