New China Archive

Guanggu World City Plaza

I sometimes refer to this shopping center as “the castle” because of its gigantic faux European renaissance architecture and art. It is a giant interconnected building with countless rooms and hallways. I spent countless hours walking around this huge complex, and I have never ceased to find something new and interesting. In my mind, this Guanggu World City Plaza is the embodiment of postmodern consumerism as it has stripped all meaning and context from the historical symbols that it has commodified. In the center of the complex is a huge cathedral which is now filled by a Huawei store. It is probably the largest “church” in Wuhan.

Statue of woman in Guanggu shopping center in Wuhan. Photo taken in 2019.
A renaissance style maiden statue in Guanggu, Wuhan, China (April, 2019)
Street performers in front of the giant fake church in Guanggu, Wuhan in 2019.
Singers performing in front of the fake cathedral in Guanggu, Wuhan, China (April, 2019).
Angel statues in Guanggu, Wuhan, China in 2019. Postmodern consumerism at its finest.
Angel statues surrounding a fake Vatican crest and overlooking Burger King in Guanggu, Wuhan, China (April, 2019).
Full sized airplane restaurant in Guanggu, Wuhan, China in 2019.
This real airplane sat at one end of the Guanggu World City Plaza shopping center in Wuhan, China for many years. The plane interior served as a restaurant. (April, 2019)