What is the Shanghai World Financial Center in Shanghai and why is it significant?

The Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC) is a skyscraper located in the Pudong district of Shanghai, China. Completed in 2008, it has 101 floors and stands at a height of 492 meters (1,614 feet). The SWFC is one of the tallest buildings in the world and has become an iconic symbol of Shanghai's modernization and emergence as a global financial hub.

Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, the SWFC is notable for its distinctive trapezoidal shape and the large aperture at the top of the building, which is intended to reduce wind pressure on the structure. The building is home to a mix of offices, hotels, observation decks, and other amenities.

The significance of the Shanghai World Financial Center lies in its role as a symbol of China's growing economic power and global influence. It is a key part of the Pudong skyline, which has been transformed in recent decades into a modern, high-rise financial center that rivals other major cities around the world. The SWFC has also been recognized for its innovative design and engineering, and has won numerous awards and accolades from the architecture and construction industries.