The Liebian International Building in Guiyang's Guanshanhu District has mounted four high-pressure water pumps on its roof that send water cascading down 108 metres of the building's facade when activated. The result is one of the world's tallest building-mounted waterfalls — a piece of engineering spectacle that has attracted international attention for reasons that are only partly architectural.
The waterfall operates on a schedule that is not publicly posted, activated for major Chinese holidays and promotional events. If you are near the Guanshanhu District on National Day (October 1), Spring Festival, or similar holidays, it is worth checking whether the pumps are running. The building itself is otherwise unremarkable, but the context — a major Chinese city demonstrating that it can put a waterfall on an office building — says something accurate about contemporary China's relationship with architectural spectacle.