Dezeen has announced the 34-strong architecture shortlist for the inaugural Dezeen Awards China, which includes buildings by Trace Architecture Office, AIM Architecture and Thomas Heatherwick.

The shortlisted projects, which are in the running for awards in seven different architecture project categories, represent the best buildings recently created in the country.

Among the projects, which are located in 21 different cities across China, is a viewing tower at a panda sanctuary, the 1000 Trees shopping centre in Shanghai by UK-based Heatherwick Studio and an art museum in Tibet.

The shortlist also features an abandoned wooden home that was renovated with 3D-printed walls and the Dance of Light skyscraper by Aedas.

Dezeen Awards China 2023 shortlists revealed this week

The shortlisted projects were selected by a jury that includes architects Ole Scheeran, Ma Yansong, Rossana Hu, Garett Hwang and Ting Yu.

This is the first edition of Dezeen Awards China, which is in partnership with Bentley Motors. Following the architecture shortlist, the projects shortlisted in the design, interiors and China designers of the year categories will be unveiled throughout the week.

All shortlisted buildings are listed below, each with a link to a dedicated page on the Dezeen Awards China website, where you can find more information about the project.

The winner of each architecture project category will be announced at a party in Shanghai in December, with the seven winners competing for the title of Chinese architecture project of the year, which is sponsored by The Dalmore and V&A Dundee.

Read on for the full architecture shortlist:

Residential project 

› Cactus House, Kunming, Yunnan, by Shi·Ye Architecture Design & Research Practice
› House M001, Shunyi, Beijing, by Guò Bàn Ér
› Erya Villa, Foshan, Guangdong, by Touchstone Interior Design
› Hotel on Tile, Fangshan, Beijing, by Beijing Jimei Survey and Design
› Mi Luo City Duan Wu Community Villager Relocating Project, Miluo, Hunan, by Zaozuo Architecture Studio

Cultural project

› O · Power Cultural and Art Centre, Nanshan, Shenzhen, by Shenzhen Huahui Design
› Tibetan Thangka Art Museum, Lhasa, Tibet, by And Studio
› Houhu·Contemporary Architecture Cultural Center, Changsha, Hunan, by WCY Regional Studio
› Serrangel, Foshan, Guangdong, by ​​Ce-St Design Studio

Civic project

› Chengdu Tianfu City Planning Hall, Tianfu, Chendu, by And Studio
› Shanghai Library East, Pudong, Shanghai, by Schmidt Hammer Lassen
› Panda Tower, Chengdu, Sichuan, by Shanghai United Design Group
› Yiwu Chian Wutong Yard, Jinhua, Zhejiang, by All Studio
› Haikou Jiangdong Huandao Experimental School, Haikou, Hainan, by Trace Architecture Office

Heritage project

› The Vanished Garden, Datong, Shanxi, by XJ Design Agency
› Somekh Building Renovation, Shanghai, by Shisuo design
› Yan Shan Art Museum, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, by EVOLVE
› Traditional House of the Future, Guizhou, by The University of Hong Kong
› Ruins Cave Garden, Dali, Yunnan, by ArConnect

Workplace project

› NIO Delivery Center, Jiading, Shanghai, by Kokaistudios
› Xixi Campus Phase 4 of a Zhejiang-Based Large Internet Company, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, by NBBJ
› URBREW Craft Beer Mashing Workshop, Handan, Hebei, by Name Lab
› Dance of Light Skyscraper Project, Chongqing, by Aedas
› Hainan Energy Trading Building, Haikou, Hainan, by Kris Yao| Artech ​​

Mixed-use project

› Taikoo Li Qiantan, Shanghai, by 5+Design
› Fairy Li (Chaichanglong Historic Area Urban Regeneration and Redevelopment), Shaoxing, Zhejiang, by SpActrum
› Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Entrepreneurship Zone Phase I, Shenzhen, Guangdong, by RSHP
› HARMAY FANG, Shanghai, by AIM Architecture
› 1000 Trees Phase 1, Shanghai, by Heatherwick Studio

Hospitality project

› Sleeping Lab Hotel, Beijing, by Atelier d'More
› Lost Villa in Simianshan, Chongqing, Kong_Architects
› JII Chuan, Chongqing, by VARI Design
› Moganshan B&B, Huzhou, Zhejiang, by SZ-Architecture
› Miwo Hotel, Lishui, by AT Design

Dezeen Awards China 2023

Dezeen Awards China is the first regional edition of Dezeen Awards, to celebrate the best architecture, interiors and design in China. The annual awards are in partnership with Bentley Motors, as part of a wider collaboration that will see the brand work with Dezeen to support and inspire the next generation of design talent in China.