Proposed design for a train station in Nanjing is ridiculed by Chinese internet users – with one joking ‘that is a giant sanitary pad!’
- The Nanjing North Train Station has been mocked by social media users
- Chinese internet users have compared the shape of the station to a sanitary napkin
A proposed design for a new train station in the Chinese city of Nanjing has been ridiculed by internet users for a very unusual reason.
Chinese social media users have pointed out that the new £2.2 billion ($2.7 billion) North Nanjing station bears a striking resemblance to a sanitary napkin.
While the designers insist that the four-lobed building should resemble a plum blossom, many netizens point out that plum blossoms are famous for having five petals.
The topic has generated millions of views on Chinese social media platforms, with many commentators mocking the unfortunate design.
A Weibo user asked, “Why can we all immediately see that it is a sanitary napkin, but the architects can’t?”
Chinese social media users have mocked the proposed design for a new Nanjing train station, comparing the station to a sanitary napkin
Chinese social media users have mercilessly mocked the design of a new Nanjing train station, with one post (pictured) asking if “this style is designed to prevent side leakage?” (translation via Google)
Nanjing North Station is a huge investment for the city of 8.5 million inhabitants and will become the largest station in the city.
The station covers an area of 37.6 square kilometers and will serve an estimated 36.5 million passengers per year.
However, none of this has stopped social media users from ruthlessly mocking the design, often comparing it to an ‘aunt’s towel’ or ‘aunt’s scarf’ – a euphemistic term for sanitary towels.
One commenter wrote on Weibo: “This is a giant sanitary napkin.
“It’s embarrassing to say it looks like a plum blossom.”
Another commenter joked: ‘I think we should take this opportunity to call on society to pay attention to period shaming.
‘This design is way ahead of its time.’
The train station is a significant investment for Nanjing, a city of 8.5 million, and is estimated to cost £2.2 billion ($2.7 billion) to build
Other social media users have joked between the station’s unfortunate design and its intended function.
One commenter joked: ‘No matter how big the passenger flow, it can be completely absorbed and stay dry all day long.’
While another post mockingly asked: ‘Is this style designed to prevent side leakage?’
However, some commentators have taken up the train station’s defense, although not always for the most obvious reasons.
‘Why does the sanitary napkin have a bad meaning?’ one commenter asked.
‘Don’t be so whiny. If your mother didn’t have her period, she wouldn’t have been able to give birth to you. Support Nanjing North Railway Station.”
This is not the first building in China to cause a stir. Previously, the China Central Television Building (pictured) was mocked for looking like a pair of large boxer shorts
According to a local news channel Nanjing morning newsthe design has now been given the green light by the provincial government and the China State Railway Group.
Construction is expected to begin in the first half of 2024 and the station is expected to receive its first passengers in early 2028. The Nankinger.
But as some have noted, this isn’t the first public building in China to cause a stir.
In 2004, the China Central Television headquarters, or CCTV Building, was also mocked for its unusual design.
Some called it a great work of architecture, while others pointed out that it looked like a pair of black shorts.
For that reason, locals often refer to the building simply as ‘big pants’ or the ‘big boxer shorts’.